On Monday, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he wants to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline, despite the fact that the company developing the project has already abandoned it.
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Trump clarified in a post on his social media platform: "The company that was building the 'Keystone XL' pipeline, which was suddenly abandoned by the incompetent Biden administration, must return to America and complete the project – immediately!"
Trump stated that his administration was "completely different" from the previous one and promised to "ease procedures and licenses, and begin work almost immediately!" He added, "If not this company, maybe another pipeline company... we want to build the 'Keystone XL' pipeline."
Oil Transportation from Canada
The project is estimated to cost several billion dollars and spans 1,200 miles (1,931 kilometers). It was intended to transport crude oil extracted from Canada's oil sands to Nebraska. The pipeline was met with environmental criticism during former President Barack Obama's administration, which rejected it in 2015. Since then, the project has been a subject of political contention.
Trump sought to restart the Keystone XL pipeline during his first term, but former President Joe Biden revoked the permit that allowed the pipeline to cross the U.S.-Canada border, just hours after taking office in January 2021.
Meanwhile, South Bow, a pipeline company that split from TC Energy, the company that had worked for over a decade to implement the Keystone XL pipeline project, indicated that it has no interest in reviving it.
Parts of the pipeline project, which runs through Alberta, Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska, have already been dismantled. Additionally, the main permits have expired.
A spokesperson for South Bow stated on Monday evening that the company "has moved on from the Keystone XL project." Katie Stafanoha from South Bow said via email: "We continue to work with clients to develop options that will increase Canadian oil supplies to meet growing U.S. demand."
Trump had previously overturned Biden's orders to cancel the pipeline permit issued in March 2019, theoretically bringing the project back into discussions at least.
However, Canadians still face the threat of new tariffs on their exports to the U.S., including a 10% tax on crude oil. Trump delayed the implementation of these tariffs until early March.
Trump believes that the U.S. can rely on its domestic oil and gas supplies without needing resources from its North American neighbors.
Trump Reviving Energy Projects
Trump's remarks represent the latest attempt by the former president to revive stalled energy projects. Earlier this month, Trump pledged to complete the Constitution Pipeline, which was meant to transport natural gas to New York, even though the company developing it canceled the project in 2020.
White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt linked the two pipeline projects during an interview on Monday with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, emphasizing Trump's desire to strengthen energy infrastructure.
She concluded: "We want to build the Keystone XL pipeline. Trump wants to build a pipeline in Northeastern New England, which is his hometown, where we suffer from some of the highest electricity and utility prices in the entire U.S."
