Shell denies reports that the energy giant is in talks to take over BP
British oil giant Shell on Thursday denied media reports that it is in talks to buy rival BP.
Coal Revival: RM of Hart Butte letter of support
Several letters of support were written backing the province’s move to rebuilt its coal fleet, announced on June 18. This letter is from the RM of Hart Butte, home to the Poplar River Power Station near Coronach.
Coal Revival: “I’m going to stay,” one coal worker told IBEW
“I had a conversation with a member, and he told me he had the best sleep in years. That was a highlight for me,” said Hoste. “There’s lots of relief.”
Coal Revival: IBEW says coal announcement will ‘have a meaningful impact on the lives of our members and their families’
“These advancements are more than just policies – they have a meaningful impact on the lives of our members and their families, creating long-term job security, vibrant communities, while providing reliable and affordable power to Saskatchewan residents.”
Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders, Part 5: Were the Regina and Lloydminster upgraders worth it? The two upgraders’ massive impact on provincial revenue
“Any reasonable entrepreneur in North America, if they had these resources, they would have done the same thing. Now, you had to be very determined about it, because it wasn’t easy. And you had the cyclical (nature) to deal with, but a lot of good entrepreneurs and business people, they know cycles. I would say it certainly contributed significantly to Saskatchewan, and it’s not going to change.” – Grant Devine
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Coal Revival: Westmoreland intends to grow in Saskatchewan, says letter of support
“Westmoreland intends not only to continue operating our mines in support of these critical power plants but also to grow with Saskatchewan.”
Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders, Part 4: Regina NewGrade Upgrader, now part of FCL, has processed 16 million barrels of heavy oil per year for 30 years
“Because of the upgrader, approximately, 40 per cent of our feedstock comes from Saskatchewan heavy oil.”
Coal Revival: United Mine Workers say federal mandate to phase out coal-fired electricity posed existential threats to entire communities
“Saskatchewan’s leadership in asserting provincial jurisdiction over its energy future deserves recognition. While the federal mandate to phase out coal-fired electricity by 2030 posed existential threats to entire communities, this new direction offers hope and continuity.”
Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders Part 3: The Lloydminster Bi-Provincial Upgrader doubled the city in size
Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers said, “Without the upgrader, Lloydminster would likely be a community of under 15,000.”
The most recent 2021 census put the city’s population at just shy of 32,000, a marginal improvement from 2016.
Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 12: Jeremy Harrison, on Saskatchewan rebuilding its coal fleet
Minister of Crown Investments Corp. and SaskPower Jeremy Harrison explains how Saskatchewan will indeed proceed with rebuilding its three coal-fired power stations and run them for years as a bridge to eventual baseload nuclear power generation. This is the most significant energy policy decision Saskatchewan has made in a decade, and likely for years to come.
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Obituary: Graham Shirley of Bert Baxter Transport passes at 89
Editor’s note: Graham Shirley and his wife, Nancy, were kind enough to allow me to interview them in 2017 as their family-owned and operated company, Bert Baxter Transport Ltd., had reached its 60th year. Graham passed away on June 17 at the age of 89. Here’s the obituary, followed by the story originally published in Pipeline News.
BREAKING: Saskatchewan to rebuild its coal fleet, despite federal regulations calling for its demise
The decision is one of the largest policy decisions the Saskatchewan government has made over the last decade. It will have one of the largest financial impacts on this province for years to come, no so much in how much it will cost, but in how much it will save.
Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders, Part 2: Grant Devine’s motivation to build upgraders while they had the chance
“And so we said, ‘We’ll probably only get four years, so we’re just gonna go to beat the band. And we’re going to build. And my objective, as a PhD economist, was we’ve got to start adding value. And we’ve got to get into these things, regardless of the times.” – Grant Devine
Alberta power reserves falls to zero late Tuesday afternoon
Two major natural gas-fired power plants in Alberta going offline at the same time caused the Alberta’s electrical contingency reserves to fall to zero in the late afternoon on Tuesday, June 17.
Regina Refinery at 90 and Devine’s Upgraders, Part 1: The two heavy oil upgraders built by the Grant Devine government had a tough opening act, but became anchors for Saskatchewan’s current economy
In late June, Federated Co-operatives Limited will be celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Regina Refinery Complex. In September, 2022, Pipeline Online published a six-part series on the two Grant Devine-era heavy oil upgraders, and their lasting impact. One of those upgraders is an integral part of the Regina Refinery Complex, and thus, is a major part of the history of that refinery. To commemorate this momentous anniversary, Pipeline Online is republishing this series.
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Trump leaves G7 summit early amid escalations in Middle East
Escalating violence in the Middle East overshadowed movement on trade deals within the G7 on Monday, as U.S. President Donald Trump departed the summit in Alberta a day early because of the crisis in Israel and Iran.
MEG Energy tells shareholders to reject Strathcona’s hostile takeover offer
MEG Energy told its shareholders on June 16 they should reject Strathcona Resources’ hostile takeover bid. Strathcona is a notable player in northwest Saskatchewan’s heavy oil play, north of North Battleford. MEG is an oil sands producer and part of the Pathways Alliance.
How a strong wind day led to coal exceeding natural gas power generation on June 8
… and how all this ties into increasing oil production while leading to nuclear
Quick Dick McDick: How do you seed?
Before he cranked his hog, Quick Dick McDick had to finish seeding. Here’s the video as a result.
Poilievre says pipelines should be built even without consensus
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was asked on June 9 about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s notion that a consensus was needed to build major projects like pipelines to tidewater.
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Eby says it’s not him blocking Smith’s oil pipeline, it’s lack of money and proponent
British Columbia Premier David Eby says it’s not him standing in the way of Alberta counterpart Danielle Smith’s longed-for oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C.’s north coast — it’s that there’s no proponent, no money and “no project right now.”
Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 11: Dr. Tammy Nemeth, energy analyst
Dr. Tammy Nemeth is an energy analyst, originally from southern Saskatchewan now based Oxford, UK. She does a lot of work on the “energy transition” that is being forced upon our society, and how unrealistic that is.
Brian Crossman: And Now for Something Completely Different
Lately, we all have been talking a whole lot about the kind of things we shouldn’t be talking about. (Especially if we want to keep our sanity) So today, instead of elections, poor political leadership and a very unstable market, we should discuss something else...
Quick Dick McDick: Laugh For a Good Cause, You Bastards!!
So way back in November, Quick Dick McDick calls and says he’d like to grab lunch, down in Estevan. He’s putting together a show to be held at the Estevan Orpheum Theatre come January. The event is meant to help out the owners finish repairs from flood damage the previous summer. And the show will be videoed for sale as a fundraiser. So he needs a cameraman. How could I say no?
Quick Dick McDick: Crank Yer Hog
Quick Dick ventures out on the open road atop his hog. Here’s some of his adventures. And they include seed potatoes. From mom.