The plunge in oil prices over the past week was more severe than the market’s dynamics justify, and the drop may be short-lived, according to Canadian energy executives gathered in Toronto.
Leaders of oil and gas producers as well as pipeline companies characterized the sudden decline — sparked by US President Donald Trump’s global tariffs and OPEC’s surprise decision to revive output more quickly than expected — as more of a shock reaction than a reflection of actual supply-and-demand imbalances.
LNG Canada is the country’s first project for the export of superchilled fuel, with a focus on Asian markets as the biggest demand driver. Eventually, however, Canada could potentially supply 36.2 million tons of LNG per year by 2040, according to estimates by Wood Mackenzie. That’s despite statements by the previous Canadian government that there was no business case for liquefied natural gas in the country. The statements were made in response to a request by the former German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, for potential LNG supply deals with Canada.
The Liberals, who were trailing Conservatives for years under former PM Trudeau, are now ahead in the opinion polls and widening the lead over Conservatives as the new Liberal leader Carney is seen as more capable than Poilievre of standing up to President Trump’s threats. If the six-point lead of the Liberals holds until Election Day, Carney could be able to form Canada’s first majority government in a decade
Over the past decade, only one pipeline made it through all the protests. The Trans Mountain Expansion Project, after it was abandoned by Kinder Morgan and purchased by the federal government, tripled the capacity of the original pipeline to 890,000 bpd from 300,000 bpd to carry crude from Alberta’s oil sands to British Columbia.
Canada’s energy exports to the United States surged in the latter part of 2024, helping the country record its biggest surplus with its main trading partner since 2022.
Oil prices slipped for a second day on Thursday after U.S. crude stockpiles rose more than expected, though attention remained on tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump on Mexico and Canada, the two largest suppliers of crude to the United States.
Despite Canada’s vast geothermal potential, the resource has remained largely untapped due to economic and technical challenges tied to conventional extraction methods.
While transitioning to a fully renewable economy is essential for addressing climate change, Canadians can’t overlook the critical role oil and gas play in supporting renewable technologies.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is no shrinking violet when it comes to disagreements with the Canadian government over energy policy.
Canada is expected to continue growing as an oil power in the coming years as the Alberta government signs new expansion deals, a new tanker terminal is opened in Vancouver, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigns.