Enbridge Applies for Pipeline Reversal in Eastern Canada
B. McPherson
Enbridge wants us to believe that their pipelines are safe. This one hasn't leaked -- yet. It lies exposed in an Ontario river.
Enbridge has applied to the National Energy Board to allow
it to reverse the flow of oil in its Line 9 pipeline. Between Sarnia and
Montreal, the company wants to be able to ship Alberta oil to the Suncor
refinery in Montreal.
It is being touted as a move to achieve energy security for
Canada. Canada imports about half the oil used in the country while at the same
time shipping oil south to refineries on the Gulf Coast. Others are not so
enthusiastic about the plan.
Enbridge has admitted that they might want to ship oil sands
bitumen through Line 9 at a later date. The bitumen is loaded with sand and
will have a sandpaper effect on the inside of the pipes. Currently, the 60 year
old conduit has only carried sweet, light petroleum. Some are even more
outspoken. A former employee is quoted on CBC who thinks this is a revival of a
plan to ship the oil to Portland Maine.
"All they want to do is transit through Montreal and then ship it to the U.S. There will be no energy security. This is bollocks," says Steven Guilbeault, head of Equiterre, an environmental group based in Montreal.”CBC News
Enbridge says that criticism of its plan is unfair, but
critics point to the safety record of the pipeline company, especially the mess
caused by the big spill in the Kalamazoo River which has yet to be cleaned up
completely. Allegations of cover up and harassment of whistle blowers swirled
around that incident.
Opposition against Enbridge’s scheme to ship oil sand
product to the west coast of Canada has jelled with thousands turning out for
demonstrations to oppose the plan to ship it west. In their zeal to push their
plans, they have ignored the foreign investors in their company while
criticizing philanthropists for donating money to defend the environment.
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