Enbridge Northern Gateway pipelines Canada

The Enbridge Pipelines involve two pipelines from Bruderheim Alberta (near Edmonton), to a new marine terminal in Kitimat, British Columbia. The East pipeline is to import natural gas condensate while the West pipeline is to export crude oil.  There is also a proposition to build a new marine terminal in Kitimat.

The proposing company is Enbridge Inc., a Canadian company that operates the world's longest crude oil and liquids pipeline system.

The project is planned to consist of two parallel pipelines between an inland terminal at Bruderheim, Alberta and a marine terminal near Kitimat, British Columbia in length of 1,177 kilometers (731 mi) both. About 520 kilometers (320 mi) of pipeline will run in Alberta and 657 kilometers (408 mi) in British Columbia. The crude oil pipeline would have a diameter of 36 inches (910 mm) and its capacity would be 525 thousand barrels per day (~2.62×10^⁷ t/a). The condensate pipeline would have diameter of 20 inches (510 mm) with capacity of 193,000 barrels (30,700 m³) of condensate per day.

 Enbridge expects these pipelines to be completed by 2015. It is expected to cost at least CAN$4.5 billion.

The project was proposed in mid-2000s and has been several times postponed. It was announced in 2006. To ensure the full utlization of the pipeline in 2005, Enbridge signed a cooperation agreement with PetroChina. PetroChina agreed to buy around 200 thousand barrels per day (~1.0×10^⁷ t/a) transported through the pipeline. However, in 2007 PetroChina withdrew from the projects because of delays to get the project started.

Private banks must not participate to the funding of this project, whatever forms it takes, be it project finance, general corporate loans or underwriting of shares or bonds on the stock markets of the companies involved.

The social impacts of this project are vast and various. The concern underlining each of these impacts is directly related to the affected communities. The proposed pathway of the pipeline crosses the territories of over 50 First Nations groups. So far the pipeline is opposed by nine different Coastal First Nations and many more inland First Nations communities located along the pipeline.  The various communities have been actively opposing the project and have voiced these concerns in regard to the social impacts. Some of the concerns are:

• Employment: The jobs created due to the project would mostly be in the construction phase. These jobs are short-run and unsustainable. The communities are concerned that these jobs won't actually benefit them.
• "Regional Multiplier Effects": The communities feel that the multiplier effects which are claimed to benefit surrounding economies are unlikely to benefit the First Nations' economies due to the structure of their economies.
• Government Revenue: It is thought that the government revenue from the project won't actually benefit the First Nations communities.
• Cultural Impact: Many First Nations people are concerned this pipeline and possible spills will have a devastating impact on cultural activities including: hunting, fishing, trapping, berry picking, spiritual activities, traditional village sites, recreation sites & travel routes. There is also the concern that the pipeline route will fragment the land even further than before, by creating artificial boundaries, creating disturbances to the land, wildlife & fish.
• Treaty rights and land title: The pipeline will decrease the amount of land available for land claim settlement due to fragmentation & privatization of the right of way.

To read more, go to full report here

There are also many environmental concerns attached to this project.  One of the biggest concerns is the threat of an oil spill and the implications this will have on the environment. Enbridge does not have a good record when it comes to oil spills. In fact, between 1999 and 2008, Enbridge lists 610 spills that released approximately 21 million litres (132,000 barrels) of hydrocarbons. The threat of a spill is heightened due to the fact that the proposed path of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline will cross around 1,000 streams and rivers, including sensitive salmon spawning habitat in the upper Fraser, Skeena, and Kitimat watersheds. Five important salmon rivers that would be impacted are the Stuart River, Morice River, Copper River, Kitimat River and Salmon River. Other concerns addressed by the First Nations communities include:

• Habitat destruction: The areas to be cleared by the pipeline construction, road building and upgrading will experience continuous disturbances and the alterations. The concern here is the effects this will have on the soil and the terrain stability, impacts on flora and fauna, etc.
• Vegetation: At the same time, due to the clearing of the land for the construction, Trees, shrubs & ground cover will be removed, including old growth forest which is now only 15-20% of the territory.
• Wildlife and wildlife habitat: The construction could also disturb and contaminate wildlife habitat, travel and migration.
• Air and Noise pollution: There are concerns from the local communities of the high levels of emissions as well as the noise which will disturb local way of life and wildlife.
• Water quality: The pipeline will cross many rivers and streams as well as wetlands, ponds and lakes. The pipeline could degrade the water quality through erosion, sedimentation, and contamination.
• Fish and habitat: Construction could affect fish during spawning periods, loss of marine plants could affect food chain, water contamination could impact fish and marine plants, etc.

To read more, go to full report here