Brad Wall says Keystone XL hiccup shows need for Energy East

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is reacting to the news of TransCanada asking the United States for a delay in the Keystone XL Pipeline application process.

It was announced Monday that the company has asked the US to suspend its application, meaning the potential for the issue to land on the table of whomever becomes the next president.

“I guess we’ll have to rely on the company’s judgment that a pause is the right thing to do. Let that process work itself out and then perhaps reactivate the application to the state department,” said Wall.

He explained how the stutter of this project highlights the need for another major pipeline project.

“This decision by TransCanada I think underscores the importance of getting approvals for Energy East.”

Wall reiterated the importance of getting Saskatchewan oil to tidewater and how, as of right now, the country only has one foreign customer for our oil.

“We need more customers and that’s what these pipelines will achieve.”

He estimates that Saskatchewan is currently losing out on tens of millions of dollars because of our landlocked price conundrum, and the pause in Keystone doesn’t help. As well, oil flowing through new pipelines would also help free up the rail system.

Coincidentally, Wall is headed to the US Tuesday afternoon for a two-day meeting with various leaders throughout the continent. He’ll be attending The North American Competitiveness Working Group in Dallas, Texas.

“We’re going to be talking specifically about revitalizing the relationship between the three countries and so for us we’ll be chatting about energy certainly,” he outlined.

Included in those discussions will be Keystone XL and other pipelines. Agriculture and country of origin labelling is anticipated to be on the agenda. Wall said there’s also a chance to bring up and promote Saskatchewan’s controversial carbon capture and storage facility.