Canada

After five years as head of one of Canada’s largest energy companies, George Watson submitted his resignation to TransCanada’s board of directors last week citing “personal reasons.” The resignation, which becomes effective July 31, comes just weeks before the company plans to announce a structural shake-up designed to support its strategic direction. No details of the reorganization are being divulged at this time, a company spokesman said.

Due to an expected rise in Alberta’s prices, eastern Canadiangas buyers will save up to 25% off their delivery costs byswitching suppliers, once the major ongoing pipeline expansionsfinish, a study jointly prepared by Energy ERA (Calgary) and A.E.Sharp & Associates (Toronto) said. The multi-client study,which involved a comprehensive evaluation of the entire NorthAmerican natural gas marketplace and focused on the continentalNortheast, said the savings are expected to begin in the 2000contract year and last until at least 2005. The largest savingsyear will be when the Alliance opens in 2001.

Westcoast Energy said its subsidiary St. Clair Pipelinessubmitted an application to Canada’s National Energy Board forconstruction of the Canadian portion of the TriState PipelineProject. The project would provide 450 MMcf/d of new firmtransportation capacity from the Chicago Hub through Indiana andMichigan to the Dawn Hub in Ontario. Project partner CMS Energyfiled an application for the U.S. portion in November of last year.Westcoast has a 33.3% stake in TriState.

Westcoast Energy said its subsidiary St. Clair Pipelinessubmitted an application to Canada’s National Energy Board forconstruction of the Canadian portion of the TriState PipelineProject, which would provide 450 MMcf/d of new firm transportationcapacity from the Chicago Hub through Indiana and Michigan to theDawn Hub in Ontario. Project partner CMS Energy filed anapplication for the U.S. portion in November of last year.Westcoast has a 33.3% stake in TriState.

TransCanada Pipelines and Westcoast Energy subsidiary St. ClairPipelines last week filed with Canada’s National Energy Board tobuild the last remaining support components required fordevelopment of the Millennium Pipeline project, a 700 MMcf/d gasline designed to serve markets throughout the Northeast.

Continuing the attack on the northwest U.S. electric generationmarket, Avista Energy Canada, a Washington Water Power (WWP)affiliate, announced Wednesday the acquisition of Coast PacificManagement Inc., a gas manager for industrials throughout BritishColumbia. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the WWPaffiliate did say that Coast Pacific would be incorporated into itsVancouver operations. The deal became effective at the time of theannouncement.

Canada’s National Energy Board gave natural-gas exporters alicense to grow by approving the Alliance Pipeline Project, but theboard included a warning of the risks of excess capacity: pricecuts and strained supplies.

Canada’s National Energy Board gave natural-gas exporters alicense to grow by approving the Alliance Pipeline Project, but theboard included a warning of the risks of excess capacity, pricecuts and strained supplies.

The Alliance Pipeline project crossed one of its last remainingregulatory hurdles on Friday when Canada’s National Energy Boardconcluded it is not likely to cause significant adverseenvironmental effects provided 41 environmental recommendations areimplemented.