Canada could add over a million barrels per day (bpd) of oil export capacity to the US over the next two years.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney made the announcement to a US Senate committee while also calling for a new cross-border oil pipeline.
However, federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said there was little discussion in Ottawa or Washington about a new oil pipeline, and warned that narrowly focusing on fossil fuel security risked hindering climate goals, Reuters reported.
Kenney and Wilkinson were in Washington addressing a Senate energy and natural resources committee on the issue of energy security, as countries around the world face rising crude prices and tight supply following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Their contrasting remarks illustrate how the federal Liberal government is often at odds with conservative politicians like Kenney over how best to manage Canada's vast oil and gas wealth while also reducing climate-warming carbon emissions.
With political will from Washington we could also get another major pipeline built that would forever allow the United States to free itself from imports from hostile regimes," Kenney told the committee, adding Alberta is the largest source of U.S. energy imports.
The Canadian government has previously said Canada could increase oil pipeline exports by 300,000 bpd this year.
Canada could boost oil exports to US
