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.
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.
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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.
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.
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- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
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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.
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?
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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.
Weekend Watch: How polycrystalline diamond cutter diamonds for drill bits are made
Ever wonder how the manmade diamonds on oilwell drill bits are made? And why a polycrystalline diamond cutter (PDC) bit costs so damned much?
Brian Zinchuk on Evan Bray: Energy superpower, energy corridors and bitumen
On Wednesday, June 4, Pipeline Online editor and owner Brian Zinchuk appeared on the Evan Bray Show on CJME/CKOM. The conversation took place two days after the big First Ministers Meeting in Saskatoon, where energy corridors, pipelines, and nation-building projects were major discussion points.
Windless Wednesday in Alberta as output falls to 0.1 per cent, while Nova Scotia pitches powering a quarter of the country with wind
In the same week Nova Scotia is proposing building enough wind power generation to handle 27 per cent of Canada’s electricity needs, Alberta saw next to now power come from its fleet of 45 wind farms throughout most of Wednesday, June 4. It was a windless...
Bronwyn Eyre: Appeasement rhetoric won’t solve federal-provincial relations
We all hope for brighter days when it comes to Canada’s economy and sense of unity. But provincial strength is preferable to weakness.
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- 0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0092 Turnbull projects big and small0092 Turnbull projects big and small
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
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- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
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Eby says he won’t be changing mind on another B.C. pipeline, rebuffing Ford
B.C. Premier David Eby says he won’t be throwing his support behind a new oil pipeline through the province, dismissing Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s suggestion that Eby would change his mind.
Inactive well cleanup results announced by minister
As of January 2025, there were 1,083 fewer inactive wells compared to when the ILRP was first launched in 2023, the ministry said in a May 29 press release.
You can’t hide these smiles. Lock and load
There's more to the oilfield than work! On May 2, the Estevan Oilfield Technical Society held its 5tth annual Top Gun Trap Shoot at the Estevan Trap Club. Those smiles are genuine, because you can't hide that much fun. Tap on the photo to enlarge, swipe to see the...
Estevan OTS Golf Tournament photo galleries
Estevan’s TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course was the venue for the Estevan Oilfield Technical Society’s ?? Annual Golf Tournament which ran May 28-31.
SaskPower asked customers to reduce demand Wednesday as low wind, gas and coal issues reduce power supply
A combination of factors led SaskPower to ask some of its large customers to reduce their power consumption on Wednesday, May 28. And the same day saw wind output fall in Alberta to 0.2 per cent capacity.