Canadian regulator halts Mainline open season
Midstreamer Enbridge’s plans to switch key north-south crude pipeline infrastructure from spot to long-term capacity access takes a hit
The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) in late September ordered Enbridge to prematurely end its two-month open season looking to change its Canadian Mainline crude pipeline system into primarily a firm contract carrier. Despite the setback, Enbridge maintains that it will not change its plan for Mainline. But the reasons given by the CER for taking this unprecedented step—an open season is normal prior to requesting a significant change of contract from a regulator—and vehement opposition by many western Canadian oil producers suggests the company’s plan could ultimately be thwarted. “[T]he commission has concerns regarding the fairness of Enbridge’s open season process and the perception of a
Also in this section
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy
