Canadian pipelines to nowhere
Lack of midstream takeaway capacity had been a growing concern for years, but Covid-19 has reversed the danger
Western Canadian oil producers have suffered from a shortage of export capacity from the region for much of the past decade, in part due to the environmental movement and its allies— strongly opposed to Alberta’s oil sands industry—slowing the pace of pipeline development. The Covid-19 pandemic has turned this problem on its head. Regional production of c.1.2mn bl/d has been shut in due to lower prices following a collapse in demand for refined products, particularly gasoline and jet fuel—leading to a significant surplus of takeaway capacity from the region. The short-term surplus should dissipate over the next year or so as North American and global oil demand rebounds. But it is likely t
Also in this section
9 January 2026
OPEC+ remains on track as output falls, with only Gabon failing to hit its output targets in December, although Kazakhstan’s compliance was involuntary
9 January 2026
The Latin American producer’s crude prospects rely on a multi-pronged approach where even the relatively easy wins will take considerable time, effort and cost
9 January 2026
While many forecasters are reasserting the importance of oil and gas, petrostates should be under no illusion things are changing, and faster than they might think
8 January 2026
Indonesia and Malaysia are at the dawn of breathtaking digital capabilities. Their energy infrastructure must keep up with their ambitions
