Op-Ed: Del Mondor: Well…that was an interesting 39 days of people finding out about the Strait of Hormuz
Please name the last wind farm to do this:
Cenovus Energy Invests $2 Million in Lakeland College
Sask NDP’s big plan for the electrical grid: Hint – lots of wind and solar, and natural gas
I spent 11 hours working on this story, which I broke into four parts. These are the first two, the next two will come out early next week.
The NDP again want to see coal-fired power go away, “as practical.” The want to convert coal plants to natural gas, even though Saskatchewan has lots of coal but not much in the way of natural gas anymore. We drilled ten gas wells over the last decade, and Alberta did that many by noon today.
There is of course the obligatory massive buildout of wind and solar, and storage. And just coincidentally, three hours after the press conference, wind output in Alberta fell to next to nothing, again.
Digging deep on the NDP’s “Grid & Growth” plan for Saskatchewan’ electrical grid, Part 1
NDP want to increase net-metering rate
Also:
Jim Warren: A History of Oil Production and Price Crises 1973-1991
What’s good for the East is not for the West
Tammy Nemeth & Ron Wallace: Two standards for one Canada
Another tale of what’s good for Eastern Canada differs significantly from what’s allowed for Western Canada.
Energy Realities Podcast: The World On Edge Fuel Rationing Begining
Wildcatting in Greenland. Seriously
Stampede Drilling is going to wildcat in Greenland – and that’s no joke
Stampede Drilling, originally founded in Estevan, is sending a drilling rig to Greenland, yes, Greenland, to drill for oil. This is about as wildcat as you can possibly get, in one of the most inaccessible and hostile places on the planet.
This is NOT an April Fool’s joke, either.
(For those unfamiliar with the term, wildcatting means drilling for oil or gas in an area not previously developed. It’s a highly risky venture.) https://glossary.slb.com/terms/w/wildcat
An energy crisis is materializing around the world
On coal refurbishments: NDP focus on cost, Sask Party focus on reliability
The Iran War is causing an energy crisis: Doomberg on Decouple and Soar Financially
Ouch
Brian Zinchuk: Did the Multi-Lateral Well Program shoot ourselves in the foot when it comes to provincial revenues?
Also, Decouple Media: The Reactor Canada Forgot How to Sell
Coal three ways – four, actually
Three in-depth pieces on coal-fired power today:
NDP say coal refurbishment will double electricity rates by 2050, prefer natural gas and renewables instead
NDP analysis of coal refurbishment and its impact on rates, in depth
SaskPower Minister responds to NDP study on refurbishing coal and its impact on rates
In cased you missed this major related story on Monday:
BREAKING: Data centre hinges on dispatchable baseload power, including coal refurbishment
I would like to point out that the Leader Post, CTV and CBC failed to mention, or perhaps even realize, that it will be coal powering that new data centre in Regina. Where did they think that power is going to come from? I know! Solar, at night!
BREAKING: Data centre hinges on coal power
BREAKING: Data centre hinges on dispatchable baseload power, including coal refurbishment. Without coal power, it’s unlikely this would be happening.
Also, I will be posting for tomorrow morning two in-depth stories on the NDP’s study into the impact of coal refurbishment on SaskPower rates.
Could Iran be the next “Forever War?”
Weekend Watch: The Iran War Expert: I Simulated The Iran War for 20 Years. Here’s What Happens Next.
While watching this, consider if the Iran War does become a forever war, what will it’s impact be on oil production, delivery through the Strait of Hormuz or lack thereof, the world economy, Canadian and Saskatchewan oil production could be profound and last years? Could this lead to a global recession, but good times for our oilpatch? Remember the $147 WTI barrel of July, 2008, led to the global financial crisis that September. Some of us are still bearing the scars of that.
I know I am.
Place your bets!
Brian Zinchuk: Place your bets! What will the oil price be due to the Iran war?
I’m guessing oil prices are going to shoot up really high, in short order.
I just got in my inbox this morning:
- QatarEnergy halts LNG production at the world’s largest plant
- European gas prices up 48% from Friday levels
- No LNG vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz
- Around 20% of global LNG supply effectively cut off
But there was “No business case” for Canadian LNG. Or Energy East, for that matter.
Also:
AtkinsRéalis’ Case for CANDU Part 2: A Canada-wide fleet purchase?
On the topic of nuclear power: Mike Harris, former premier of Ontario, will be talking nuclear power generation on the Pipeline Online Podcast on Tues., Mar. 3, at 10 a.m. Join us live on X at https://x.com/Pipeline_Online. I plan on asking about the big picture considerations on nuclear power.
Is there ANYTHING Brookfield isn’t involved in these days?
TransAlta signs Alberta data centre deal with CPP Investments and Brookfield.
Strengthening Saskatchewan’s Grid: Harrison releases plan for electrical transmission upgrades
The NDP take on recent SaskPower announcements and the impact on power bills
On the topic of Alberta succession:
Herb Pinder: Uncertainty begets opportunity
Can Saskatchewan do the CANDU?
Should Saskatchewan buy the CANDU reactor when it comes to building large-scale nuclear in this province? Carl Marcotte Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Business Development at CANDU Energy, part of AtkinsRealis, makes the pitch. Building large reactors will only be the largest, most expensive decision made by this province for generations.
Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 29: Carl Marcotte, CANDU Energy
I’m hoping to get Westinghouse on in a future episode, as the main competitor.
Related: Cameco CEO on whirlwind Washington trip for talks on reactor deal
Also – Jim Warren: Critical questions about the Alberta-Ottawa pipeline MOU remain unanswered
Enbridge unfazed by prospect of more Venezuelan oil headed to Gulf Coast
TC Energy sets growth sights on U.S. data centre boom
Get the paddles!
Things have been looking really bleak for southwest Saskatchewan’s oilpatch. If this were a medical drama, this would be where the doctor puts the paddles on the dying patient’s chest, yells, “Clear!” and shocks the patient.
We might have just seen a little blip on the heart monitor with this land sale.
Whew! Southwest Saskatchewan sees more interest in this land sale than in all of 2025 combined
And yes, it is that bad. Most oilfield services in that region have either shut down or are barely hanging on. I spent an hour yesterday talking to the owner of several businesses in that area.
Doomberg on Canadian energy
Weekend Watch: Is Canada Wasting Its Energy Advantage? | Doomberg on Oil, LNG, and the Pipeline Future
There’s some pretty good discussion about Saskatchewan at the 30 minute mark.
Also, from Canadian Press: Carney says Qatar will make ‘significant’ investments in Canada’s major projects.
At least Carney isn’t dressing up in local dress like Trudeau did in India. Take that for what you will.
China-Canada deal, Venezuela analysis
Here’s what Carney, Moe, Beck and Ford posted about meeting with Chinese President Xi and the resulting trade deal
Backgrounder on the deal.
Also, Kaase Gbakon: Venezuela by the Numbers: What 60 Years of Energy Data Reveal About Its Future
BREAKING: Coal injunction tossed, judicial activism rebuked
BREAKING: Coal injunction tossed; court says governments get to make environmental policy. In other words, the coal injunction is dead it its tracks. @SaskPower can rejuvenate its coal fleet. The decision is a rebuke of the trend of judge-made law and activist courts, clearly noting the supremacy of the legislative branch in making policy.
This is a huge decision on many points – not just on coal, but on putting activist judges in their place. It will be cited for a long time to come.
The pendulum just may be swinging back to sanity.
Also: NDP criticizes impending SaskPower rate hikes, minister responds
If you don’t breathe for 12 hours, do you ask about a good day?
Saskatchewan saw zero wind power for 17 hours over two days.
Hilariously, a Saskatchewan doctor commented on Facebook re this story, “Are you able to share the data for a day where we had good wind production too, for comparison sake?”
I responded, “Doctor, when you look at a patient, do you say, “Let’s look at a day when he’s breathing, because on this day for 12 hours he wasn’t breathing?”
“You don’t judge critical systems by their good days, but their worst. You of all people should know that.”
Related:
NDP calls SaskPower rate hike “fiscal trainwreck,” Minister calls it “modest” compared to the alternative.
Trump & Co. mentioned oil 26 times …
… during the press conference after nabbing Venezuela’s Maduro.
This is a HUGE problem for Canada, as every barrel of oil Venezuela adds would most likely displace a barrel Canada produces. How do I know? Because Canadian oil replaced Venezuelan production over the last two decades.
Brian Zinchuk: Trump’s takeover of Venezuela means Canada needs those west coast pipelines ASAP
Don’t believe me? Here’s Adam Pankratz in the National Post.
Adam Pankratz: Venezuelan oil could put Canada out of business
If sabotage of the energy industry doesn’t end now, we face impoverishment
I swear I wrote my own column a day before I saw his. They’re almost word for word in some parts.
Year end interview with Scott Moe on energy
Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 24: Premier Scott Moe Year End
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe joins the Pipeline Online Podcast in his annual year-end interview. The discussion digs into the coal decision, Saskatchewan’s move into nuclear, carbon capture, interties to Alberta’s grid, and the Alberta-Canada MOU. The multilateral well program, oil production goals, Saskatchewan’s new energy and resources minister, lithium and hydrogen are also discussed.
One more element on the periodic table
Hydrogen in SK Part 1: How the quest for helium led to MAX Power drilling for Hydrogen
For those who are keeping track, just some of the elements Saskatchewan already produces are CxHx (*hydrocarbons), KCl, U, AU, He and soon Li and Cu (we might already have some copper production, but I’m not sure.)