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Koch brothers’ company files to develop oil sands project

Globe and Mail: The Canadian oil arm of the conglomerate owned by the U.S. billionaire Koch brothers has begun initial regulatory work on a multibillion-dollar oil sands project after an asset-sales effort two years ago left it holding a number of leases. Koch Oil Sands Operating LLC, the Calgary-based unit of Koch Industries Inc., has made an initial filing with Alberta regulators and has been in consultation with the nearby Fort McKay First Nation regarding the proposed development. "We intend to develop...

Canada: Christy Clark’s unenviable path to B.C. pipeline prosperity

Globe and Mail: The last time a Canadian Premier complained loudly about getting shortchanged in energy developments, he dug in his heels and made what turned out to be very lucrative deals for his province. That was Newfoundland's Danny Williams, who in the past decade demanded better terms from the world's largest oil majors as they planned the Hebron project on the Grand Banks. The pugnacious former leader won the right to buy a 4.9-per-cent stake in the multibillion-dollar development, and established...

Canada: Imperial, Exxon Deal Offers Industry Hope of Alberta Oil Turnaround

Globe and Mail: Imperial Oil Ltd. and Exxon Mobil Corp. have teamed up to buy a major Alberta oil sands property from ConocoPhillips for $751-million, ending a drought of large deals for bitumen-rich lands that had persisted since the start of the year. ConocoPhillips has had a package of oil patch assets on the auction block since early 2012. In that time, however, the deal flow in the industry slowed to a trickle. The U.S. energy giant now says that in addition to selling the oil sands assets to Imperial and...

Canadian Energy Stocks Buoyed by Surge in Prices for U.S. Crude

Globe and Mail: Canadian energy stocks are finally playing catch-up with sizzling oil markets. In the past four weeks, the S&P/TSX capped energy index, which includes big names such as Cenovus Energy Inc., Suncor Energy Inc. and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., has climbed 9 per cent as U.S. crude prices approached, then rocketed above, $100 (U.S.) a barrel. The gains come as companies prepare to deliver second-quarter financial results that in many cases will display rich rewards from a steady improvement...

Oil-sands expansion conditionally approved despite ‘significant’ effects on wildlife

Globe and Mail: Federal and Alberta regulators have conditionally approved Royal Dutch Shell's multibillion-dollar Jackpine oil-sands mine expansion despite their findings that it would have a number of adverse environmental impacts. A joint review panel, appointed by the federal Environment Minister and the provincial energy regulator, ruled that the project's effects on wildlife and vegetation will be significant, but that it is nonetheless in the public interest. Alberta and Ottawa will now make their own...