TORONTO (AP) 鈥� and proposed a pipeline Monday to carry western Canadian oil east and eventually to Atlantic export terminals as seeks new markets beyond the United States, reviving a project that was abandoned nearly a decade ago.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the proposed 3,300-kilometer (2,050-mile) pipeline would run from Hardisty, Alberta, to Sarnia, Ontario, carrying up to 500,000 barrels of oil a day with potential for up to 800,000 barrels. She said the corridor eventually could extend to Canada鈥檚 Atlantic coast, opening the door to oil exports to Europe.
The United States is by far the largest buyer of Canada鈥檚 crude oil, while Alberta holds one of the world鈥檚 largest proven oil reserves.
said the pipeline would be a sound investment regardless of whether it is publicly or privately financed. A feasibility study is planned.
鈥淭here is still a lot of work ahead of us to deliver,鈥� Ford said.
The proposal faces major hurdles including financing, regulatory approvals and consultations with the Indigenous population. A similar project, Energy East, was abandoned in 2017 after years of political, regulatory and environmental opposition, including in Quebec.
鈥淚t鈥檚 technically feasible but it would be a massive undertaking. We are only at a very early stage of the project and we don鈥檛 have the final route or cost estimates yet,” said Daniel B茅land, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not even sure the Hardisty-Sarnia pipeline will ever be built so the idea it could at some point reach the Atlantic sounds quite speculative at this stage to say the least.鈥�
Last week, Smith and advanced plans for a separate, taxpayer-subsidized Pacific coast pipeline intended to increase exports to Asian markets. Alberta is partnering with the federally owned Trans Mountain Corp. and Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline on that proposed project. Smith said the size of any private-sector stake has yet to be determined.
Smith has said she wants Alberta to double oil production to 8 million barrels a day over the next 10 to 15 years. She has argued that former Prime Minister 鈥檚 government damaged Alberta鈥檚 energy industry and fueled .
Alberta will hold a vote this fall on whether to hold a referendum on provincial independence.
Andrew Leach, an energy economist and professor at the University of Alberta, called Smith鈥檚 oil production goals 鈥渋ncredibly ambitious,鈥� noting that Alberta experienced severe inflation the last time it attempted to ramp up production so quickly. He also questioned whether oil producers would want to send crude to Sarnia, Ontario, if there were no way to move it beyond the city.
Last week, Carney acknowledged Canada鈥檚 emissions would rise in the near term as his government expands pipeline infrastructure. He has made diversifying Canada鈥檚 exports a priority in response to U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 trade war and has pledged to expand access to markets in Europe and Asia.
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