Tag Archives: industry

While Canada’s oil industry waits on decisions regarding TransCanada’s Keystone XL and Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline, the former company has put together an alternative project: the Energy East pipeline.

A CAD$12 billion pipeline to connect oil sources in the west to demands in the east, Energy East would link Hardisty, Alberta to Quebec and New Brunswick, where Irving Oil ― Canada’s biggest refinery nearby ― would partner with TransCanada to build a terminal so that Canadian oil can finally reach greater markets.

Unlike its predecessors, Energy East’s success rate is high. Where other pipelines needed to acquire land for its route, Energy East proposes a route that will build on existing infrastructure, adding another 1,400 km of pipe where TransCanada already claims most of the necessary rights-of-way. In addition, there’s wide support from Irving Oil to Stephen Harper, who either want to improve the refining industry or obtain energy security.

However, there are still hurdles to jump before pumping 1.1 million barrels of oil per day. Opposition is predicted to come from Ontario, who is concerned about its benefits, and Quebec, a province still shaken from a derailed train explosion this past July.

With the risk all pipelines bring, some wonder if it’s worth it. Analyzing the information, I’d say Energy East would be the most “worth it” of the three projects, as it has considerably less risk to the environment with a lot to gain.

A news clip discussing the Energy East Pipeline.

Nevertheless, compared to other pipeline projects, Energy East’s future looks bright. Having secured crucial support, it’s taking firm steps toward official operation in 2017.

In recent years, smoking has fallen in many countries; however, consumers have turned to “vaping”, the result of a new alternative called E-cigarettes.

E-cigs have become the new hype, and work by heating liquid nicotine into vapour which smokers then inhale and exhale. In Europe alone, 7 million people use e-cigs, where it competes with cigarettes and smoking cessation products without the taxes and regulations.

As e-cigarettes rise in popularity, the tobacco industry must consider whether or not a “Kodak-moment” (when Kodak, the biggest maker of camera film, failed to adapt to consumers’ change in taste) will come and how they should adapt to stay in the game. Some firms have taken pre-emptive measures against this possible future, using tactics such as taking stakes in e-cigarette companies or developing their own products; nicotine-inhalers and less-toxic tobaccos are expected to roll out within the next few years.

Check out this news report regarding the safety of e-cigarettes (watch till 4:05)

The safety of e-cigs are controversial; however, it does not seem to be affecting the rising demand for it. Yet.

Standing alongside Rafael Castillo, I agree that although tests have been done to judge the e-cigs’ effectiveness in smoking cessation, its use can only be condoned, not recommended. Reasons being it fails to ween one out of the habits of smoking (holding, lighting, and breathing a cigarette) and some users may misinterpret e-cigs as a “healthier” alternative to tobacco, continuing their intake of nicotine through that.

Fellow student Scott Marshall also gives his take as to what the European Union should do. What’s your take on e-cigarettes?

Tag Archives: industry

From the West to the East: Energy East

E-cigarettes: a rising demand