Opportunities knocking

Tuesday, 21 October 2008 18:12

North America is facing a once in a generation opportunity to build essential pipeline infrastructure in both Canada and the United States, says Brenda Kenny, President of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA). Addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for CEPA’s members, Kenny is an invited guest speaker at the Association of Oil Pipelines 2008 Annual Business Conference in Austin, Texas this week. “CEPA member companies have more than $40 billion dollars of pipeline infrastructure projects on the books. Adding the planned investment for Alaska and Mackenzie, that number jumps to $80 billion. Unless timely government decisions are made, many of these projects will face escalating costs and increased uncertainty,” says Kenny. “We need to ensure the regulatory decision-making processes in Canada and the United States are being taken seriously or there will be significant economic consequences for the entire continent.” CEPA lauds Canada’s recent creation of the Major Projects Management Office (MPMO), which was launched in February 2008, and is designed to coordinate and expedite major projects, including pipeline infrastructure projects. “The creation of the MPMO by the Canadian federal government was a big step in the right direction but all levels of government, on both sides of the border, need to remain focused on ensuring that timely decisions of projects occur. As we have seen so dramatically in the last few days, the ability by governments to act quickly is absolutely critical to ensuring the economic viability of not just the pipeline industry, but the entire economy as a whole. We are urging governments to recognize and act on their responsibility to deliver timely decisions on major pipeline projects, which are the backbone of the North American economy.” Some of largest players in the oil pipeline industry are in attendance at the American Oil Pipeline conference, including Enbridge Energy, BP Pipelines, Chevron Pipeline Company, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners.