Tar Sands 101
The Tar Sands "Gigaproject" is the largest industrial project in human history and likely also the most destructive. The tar sands mining procedure releases at least three times the CO2 emissions as regular oil production and is slated to become the single largest industrial contributor in North America to Climate Change.
The tar sands are already slated to be the cause of up to the second fastest rate of deforestation on the planet behind the Amazon Rainforest Basin. Currently approved projects will see 3 million barrels of tar sands mock crude produced daily by 2018; for each barrel of oil up to as high as five barrels of water are used.
Human health in many communities has seriously taken a turn for the worse with many causes alleged to be from tar sands production. Tar sands production has led to many serious social issues throughout Alberta, from housing crises to the vast expansion of temporary foreign worker programs that racialize and exploit so-called non-citizens. Infrastructure from pipelines to refineries to super tanker oil traffic on the seas crosses the continent in all directions to allthree major oceans and the Gulf of Mexico.
The mock oil produced primarily is consumed in the United States and helps to subsidize continued wars of aggression against other oil producing nations such as Iraq, Venezuela and Iran.
To understand the tar sands in more depth, continue to our Tar Sands 101 reading list
TransCanada takes on rival Enbridge
- Alberta (& Saskatchewan) Tar Sands
- Enbridge Gateway Pipeline/ Offshore Tanker Traffic [BC]
- Mackenzie Gas Project / Alaska Highway pipelines [NWT/AK]
- Tarsands Infrastructure: South/ East [US & Can]
- International oil & gas
- Climate Change / Emissions
- Economics
- Energy
- Labour / Migration
- Land
- Peak Oil
- Social Impacts
- War and Security
Redrawing the pipeline map
TransCanada takes on rival Enbridge in trying to reshape continental oil movement
David Ebner
Vancouver — From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Jan. 02, 2010
A decade ago, TransCanada Corp. (TRP-T36.190.260.72%) was reeling as the Calgary power and natural gas pipeline company had slashed its dividend and watched its stock price plunge when a rival pipeline came on the scene.
Mackenzie Pipeline saga to drag on despite Joint Review Panel approval
Mackenzie Pipeline saga to drag on despite Joint Review Panel approval
By Lauren Krugel (CP)
CALGARY — The Mackenzie Gas Project's supporters will usher in 2010 having passed a major milestone in what has been a long and often frustrating process.
But it's not time to uncork the champagne just yet.
There are numerous hurdles the backers of the 1,200-kilometre natural gas pipeline through the Northwest Territories must clear before a single segment of pipe can be laid.
AP Story: Panel Issues Mackenzie Natural Gas Report
Panel Issues Mackenzie Natural Gas Report
Panel weighing Canada's Mackenzie natural gas pipeline issues environmental report
CALGARY, Alberta December 30, 2009 (AP)
The Associated Press
A nearly decade-long quest to build a multibillion-dollar natural gas pipeline in Canada's north has cleared a major hurdle with the release of a years-overdue regulatory report Wednesday.
Energy sector transformed by 2009 transactions.
Energy sector transformed by 2009 transactions.
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
Canwest News Service // Calgary Herald
CALGARY – It was the year of the mega-deal.
Despite fewer overall transactions, merger and acquisitions in 2009 were dominated by a handful of super-deals that reshaped the oilpatch landscape for the decade to come as familiar faces fell by the wayside, to be replaced by some new players sure to become household names.
"Technology will solve oilsands environmental challenge"
If you ever needed evidence that the consciousness rising around tar sands the world over was powerful, look at the horse-hockey that the Can West chain (through their Edmonton Journal) is reduced to. There is no technoligcal fix. It is currently science fiction.
Globe and Mail bio of Rick George, CEO of Suncor
Rick George is also one of the main architects of the NACC (North American Competitiveness Council) that, among many things, authored the now-defunct Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) and has been one of the leading voices in 'helping' to deliver the Olympic corporate farce to Vancouver for February, 2010. When PetroCanada was bought out by Suncor, Rick George became the president and CEO of the principle energy supplier to the Games.
Canada Approves PetroChina's $1.9 Billion Majority Stake
Canada Approves PetroChina's $1.9 Billion Majority Stake In Athabasca Oil Sands
January 1, 2010 6:55 a.m. EST
AHN Staff
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement has okayed PetroChina International Investment Company Limited to take a majority ownership in the Athabasca Oil Sands Corporation.
Clement said he approved the application for PetroChina to pay $1.9 billion for a 60 percent stake in Athabasca's MacKay and Dover Oil Sands projects after he became satisfied the investment would provide a net benefit to Canada.
U.S. consul general watching tar sands closely
U.S. consul general watching oilsands closely
The Canadian Press
Date: Saturday Jan. 2, 2010
CALGARY — A career diplomat is keeping a close eye on the failures and successes within Alberta's oilsands and is reporting what she learns to the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama.
Review panel green-lights Mackenzie pipeline
Review panel green-lights Mackenzie pipeline
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 30, 2009
CBC News
Canadian Arctic gas pipeline report due Wednesday
Canadian Arctic gas pipeline report due Wednesday
Tue Dec 29, 2009
CALGARY, Alberta, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The panel assessing the socioeconomic and environmental impact of a C$16.2 billion ($15.6 billion) gas pipeline in northern Canada will issue its long-awaited report on Wednesday, a day earlier than expected, the Northern Gas Project Secretariat said.
The Joint Review Panel has been preparing its findings and recommendations on the proposed 1,220 km (760 mile) Mackenzie Pipeline since public hearings into the project wrapped up more than two years ago.
