Alberta and Ottawa Reach Landmark Energy Agreement, Paving Way for Massive Export Expansion
By Zvakwana Nomore Sweto
Edmonton. Alberta: In a historic move set to reshape Canada’s energy landscape, the governments of Alberta and Canada have announced a sweeping agreement that will unleash the province’s oil and gas sector, signaling a significant shift in federal-provincial energy policy.
The deal, hailed as a “massive win” by the Alberta government, centers on removing key regulatory hurdles and dramatically increasing pipeline capacity to international markets. The agreement effectively shelves two major federal initiatives: the proposed cap on oil and gas production and the draft clean electricity regulations aimed at achieving a Net-Zero power grid by 2035.
A central pillar of the agreement is a commitment to new pipeline infrastructure. The deal promises to advance a new pipeline with a capacity of over one million barrels per day to the West Coast, alongside the full utilization of the recently completed 400,000-barrel-per-day Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX).
Combined, this would add 1.4 million barrels per day in capacity, nearly tripling Alberta’s ability to export oil to lucrative Asian markets. The plan also secures the necessary deep-water port access for oil tankers.
“This deal includes the potential for an additional 1.4 million barrels-per-day in pipeline capacity to the west coast, almost tripling Alberta oil exports to Asian markets,” the Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith stated.
The agreement represents a major victory for Alberta’s long-standing demands for autonomy over its energy sector. In return for the federal concessions, Alberta will focus on reducing emissions through its own Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system and by advancing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology.
“Ottawa has agreed to drop the oil and gas production cap and suspend the Net-Zero power regs, so Alberta can focus on reducing emissions through our TIER system and world-leading CCUS technology instead,” the announcement read.
The province estimates the agreement will create tens of thousands of jobs and attract billions in new investment, bolstering the national economy.
However, Alberta officials struck a cautiously optimistic tone, vowing to “still hold the federal government accountable for keeping their end of the bargain.”
While the agreement marks a decisive end to years of friction over energy and climate policy, the statement concluded by noting the work ahead: “There’s a lot of work left to do so let’s roll up our sleeves and get the job done, Alberta!”
The full details of the announcement are available on the Alberta government’s official website.
