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CALGARY— Five oil sands companies have revealed themselves as supporters of the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline, lending their names to a massive infrastructure proposal that has stirred intense opposition in Western Canada.
Cenovus Energy Inc., MEG Energy Corp., Nexen Inc. Suncor Energy Marketing Inc., a subsidiary of Suncor Energy Inc. and Total E&P Canada, the domestic arm of French giant Total SA, have each spent money to help develop the $6.6-billion pipeline, which if built will funnel massive volumes of oil sands crude to the West Coast for export to California and Asia.
Each has signed up as a “funding participant,” joining the others in buying some of the 10 units that make up a $100-million fund Enbridge Inc. (ENB-T37.910.611.64%) sold in 2007 and 2008. The money was used to fund preconstruction development and engineering of the project.
The names were disclosed in National Energy Board filings made less than a week before the start of regulatory hearings that will examine Northern Gateway’s commercial and environmental desirability.
For years, companies declined to confirm their participation in Gateway, which has attracted substantial criticism that has, until now, been directed toward Enbridge itself. But now, with public hearings beginning next Tuesday, companies are emerging publicly as Enbridge seeks to buttress its argument to the NEB that there is substantial need for the pipeline.
“The more business partners that we have step up to the plate and add their voice to that momentum, the better we are for that,” Gateway spokesman Paul Stanway said. “We’re seeing a groundswell of opinion in favour of Northern Gateway.”
Opposition has also been swelling – more than 100 first nations groups in B.C. have categorically rejected the project. The prospect of bringing 525,000 barrels per day of oil to the coast, and importing a further 193,000 barrels of an oil-thinner called condensate, has stoked substantial concern among those who believe a spill will be environmentally catastrophic. Indeed, one letter to the NEB says the project will engender “ecocide.”
Resistance is especially strong among those who believe spills from Gateway will sully vital B.C. waters. And environmental groups have been eager to learn which corporations stand to profit from the project.
“It’s nice to know who British Columbians are dealing with,” said Eric Swanson, an anti-oil-tanker campaigner with the B.C.-based Dogwood Initiative.
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