NEW ORLEANS, March 6 (UPI) -- The increase in North American oil production is straining existing pipeline capacity, Canadian officials said.
Cal Dallas, the provincial minister of international affairs for the Alberta government, said more infrastructure is needed to create a vibrant North American energy sector.
"Energy infrastructure constraints must be overcome if Albertans are to get higher prices for our resources," he said in his Wednesday address at an energy conference in Louisiana.
Alberta's oil fields are among the largest in the world. Pipeline companies in Canada are working on various options to get that oil to national and U.S. refineries through projects like the Keystone XL pipeline.
Canadian Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver told the audience at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston that Keystone XL was a vital link to the North American energy sector.
"Keystone XL should be approved, to the benefit of both our countries," he said.
The U.S. government needs to sign off on Keystone XL because it would cross the U.S.-Canadian border.
Though environmental groups have expressed concern about transporting Canada's heavier grade of crude oil, a State Department review in January downplayed most of those fears.
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- Canadian oil exports to U.S. increased last year
- Canadian bitumen exports to U.S. Midwest increases
- Keystone XL tops Stephen Harper's agenda in Mexico
- TransCanada: Pipelines and rail complementary
- Canada forced to respond to U.S. energy
- Alberta mulls oil pipeline options
- U.S.-Canada water talks make KXL 'look silly'
- Obama to make Keystone decision in coming months
