Pipeline safety threatens Canadian oil-sands expansion
US regulators have reported concerns over the safety of the pipelines
Canadian oil producers are putting on a brave face for the future of oil-sands expansions after a damning report by the US regulators raised serious concerns over the safety of export pipelines to the Lower 48 states. On 11 July, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stopped short of accusing pipeline operator Enbridge of negligence in relation to a 2010 leak that dumped 20,000 barrels of heavy oil-sands crude into the Kalamazoo River near Michigan. Instead, the board painted a picture of incompetence and compared the company to the inept "Keystone Cops" in its response to the spill, which took 17 hours to stop the flow after it was first detected. The choice of words by NTSB chair
Also in this section
14 January 2026
Chavez’s socialist reforms boosted state control but pushed knowledge and capital out of the sector, opening the way for the US shale revolution
14 January 2026
Leading economies in the region are using oil and gas revenues to fund mineral strategies and power hyperscale computing
14 January 2026
The South American country offers stable, transparent and high-potential opportunities and is now ready for fresh exploration and partnership
13 January 2026
Across Europe, countries have grappled with balancing ambitious energy transition plans with realities about security of supply
