by Canadian Sailings | Dec 12, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Environment, Featured, Other
By R. Bruce Striegler
“I’m an engineer, and engineers build things”, says Alberta-born Neil Camarta, founder and Director of Enlighten Innovations Inc. One of the things Mr. Camarta has ‘built’ and which is currently occupying much of his time, is the development and commercialization of a new bitumen sulphur removal and upgrading technology called DSU, which can be used in upgrading Alberta bitumen. The proprietary technology is undergoing testing at a ten barrel per day, $30 million pilot plant in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta and has been operational since the end of 2015. Camarta says, “Our pilot plant has confirmed our technology and we are now building a demonstration facility to produce 2500 barrels of finished low sulphur marine fuel from heavy oil stocks. We expect our CLEANSEAS plant to be ready in 2020.” (more…)
by Canadian Sailings | Oct 18, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Business and Economy, Gateways and Corridors, Other, Supply Chain and Logistics
By R. Bruce Striegler
It was only a few years ago when many in Canada thought a huge wave of global LNG activity would soon crash over the shores of British Columbia. From an original list of more than 15 proposed multi-billion dollar projects in the Province, only one remains a possibility today. The rich Asian market has been glutted since 2015, following a massive development program across the region which began in 2000. But a policy shift to favour consumption of natural gas in China this year and strong economic growth across Asia has pushed up demand. Several export projects in North America hope for Final Investment Decision (FID) this year, including LNG Canada, a $40 billion, 13 million-tonnes-a-year venture led by Royal Dutch Shell, with PetroChina, Korea Gas Corporation and Japan’s Mitsubishi as partners. The proposed liquefaction plant and marine terminal are planned for Kitimat, B.C. (more…)
by Canadian Sailings | Aug 29, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Business and Economy, Government and Regulation, Other, Supply Chain and Logistics
By R. Bruce Striegler
“The Trump Administration is proceeding with unilateral measures to address what it has characterized as “unfair” trade, risking retaliation, but banking on a threat of massive escalation to extract a favourable outcome for itself,” says the C.D. Howe Institute. Released in June, a new report titled “Quantifying the Impacts of the U.S. Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariffs”, its authors find that protective trade measures imposed by the United States will reduce U.S. and Canadian GDP, while paradoxically strengthening trade partners outside the North American region through competitive gains. (more…)
by Canadian Sailings | Jul 4, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Gateways and Corridors, Other
By R. Bruce Striegler
At first glance, the Vancouver Island city of Nanaimo may seem to be an unusual location for a yet un-named European auto manufacturer to establish a vehicle processing centre (VPC) for Western Canada. However, Ewan Moir, President and CEO of Nanaimo Port Authority, assures us that is exactly what is taking place. “Historically, the way European autos reach Western Canada is after unloading from ships at Eastern Canadian ports, they are shipped across the country by rail, then moved into holding yards and moved again by truck to the dealerships. Logistical challenges, delays, and costs coming across Canada opened people’s eyes to the need for change.” Moir mentions land prices in the Vancouver area as a further issue. “Dealerships were turning to the manufacturer and expressing concern about holding large inventories which were becoming an expensive proposition.” (more…)
by Canadian Sailings | Jul 4, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Business and Economy, Environment, Government and Regulation, Ocean, Other, Ports and Terminals
By R. Bruce Striegler
Little did Prime Minister Justin Trudeau realize in November 2016 as he stood before a crowd of reporters in Vancouver announcing his government’s $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, that he would ultimately have to declare in May 2018 the government would be spending a further $4.5 billion to purchase the Trans Mountain pipeline and all of Kinder Morgan Canada’s core assets.
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by Canadian Sailings | Jul 4, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Business and Economy, Environment, Other
By R. Bruce Striegler
While the public and the national media have been focused on the controversy over the Kinder Morgan Pipeline Expansion, another, quite different, proposal has been gaining considerable attention. A venture lead by noted B.C. First Nations writer and entrepreneur Calvin Helin, is proposing a $16 billion project to carry Alberta oil to tidewater in British Columbia. Five years ago, Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings Ltd., began investigating the notion of creating the Eagle Spirit energy corridor, whose concept is to move Alberta bitumen, B.C. natural gas and B.C. hydroelectricity along a route from Alberta to northwestern B.C. terminating near Prince Rupert. The acrimony over the Kinder Morgan expansion has brought the focus of their idea directly onto the oil pipeline portion of the plan. (more…)
