Alberta CO₂ pipeline faces calls for federal review amid regulatory concerns
A coalition of Indigenous leaders, rural landowners and farmers is calling for federal oversight of a proposed $16.5-billion carbon dioxide (CO₂) pipeline in Alberta, raising concerns about safety, environmental risks and regulatory transparency.
The project, led by Pathways Alliance and backed by major oilsands producers, would include a roughly 400-km pipeline network designed to transport captured CO₂ from multiple northern Alberta facilities to a storage hub near Cold Lake.
According to Edmonton Journal, opponents are urging the federal government to conduct a full impact assessment, arguing that Alberta’s current regulatory approach does not provide sufficient review. The push follows a 2024 decision by the Alberta Energy Regulator to waive a provincial environmental impact assessment for the project.
Members of the coalition said they have struggled to obtain clear information about potential risks, including pipeline integrity and groundwater impacts. Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam said communities remain concerned about long-term environmental and health effects tied to large-scale carbon transport and storage infrastructure.
Project supporters, including Alberta officials, maintain the pipeline is a key component of broader carbon capture and storage (CCUS) efforts aimed at reducing emissions from oilsands operations. The system is intended to centralize CO₂ transport and enable long-term underground storage, Edmonton Journal reported.
The coalition plans to hold additional public meetings in the coming weeks as regulatory review processes continue.
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