Alberta government announces new effort to expand oil and gas pipeline capacity with Enbridge [Video]

The Alberta government is partnering with Calgary-based pipeline company Enbridge Inc. to increase the province’s oil and gas pipeline capacity.

The agreement is to begin with a new formal working group between Enbridge and the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission, a Crown corporation.

Premier Danielle Smith says they will focus on streamlining regulations and permitting approvals, and expanding opportunities along Enbridge’s existing 29,000-kilometre network.

It’s all part of her United Conservative government’s push to double oil production and increase exports to the United States.

Smith says rather than investing taxpayer dollars directly into pipeline projects, the province will look to guarantee capacity by leveraging oil and gas that is paid in-kind to the government instead of financial royalties.

She says the province has a responsibility to ensure its oil and natural gas has market access, and noted Alberta exports more than 4.3 million barrels per day of crude oil to the U.S.