Pipeline Online: Letter to the Editor - Del Mondor: Nation building, you say!

Nation building you say!

Once upon a time TransCanada Pipeline (TC) projected a $15.7 billion price tag for the Energy East 1.1 million barrel per day line. The proposal was on its way to meeting all the rules of engagement, building and meeting all environmental hurdles….so the answer is “Yes, keep working” … right? Wrong. TC got to the point of “this isn’t happening” and withdrew in October 2017. In the meantime and since 2000 Eastern Canada has imported $550 billion plus worth of oil from USA, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and others. Today we average 518,000 barrels per day imported into Eastern Canada. This is really embarrassing that a country so rich in oil and gas cannot even serve its own people. A private company was willing to invest in Canada and the government more or less was not on board … sad. TC spent $1 billion of 2015 dollars on this failed effort….enough to scare off any private business.

Energy East map. National Energy Board/Canada Energy Regulator

Now I strongly believe in Energy East as the premiere choice of new pipe. We have a built-in friendly Canadian customer at the end and along the line. We add optionality to Canada’s crude and maybe the world stops laughing at us. Our company would not utilize Energy East, but this project would have unreal benefit to all Canadians.

Here is an thought: Invite TC back to the table with the promise of once all stakeholders have been heard, adjustments made and the stringent approvals are granted, the government will block or override all interruption to the build. Provide certainty and zero taxpayer dollars … terribly simple.

I have included a map of Energy East to show it truly is a Nation building project (kind of looks like the railroad) and 100% on Canadian soil….

Just my “Crude Thoughts.”

Del Mondor,
CEO, Aldon Oils Ltd.,
Weyburn/Calgary