The closed Strait of Hormuz is testing Asia’s energy security. The answer lies across the Pacific—in Canada

https://fortune.com/2026/03/15/asia-energy-crisis-iran-war-hormuz-canada-lng/

27 Comments

  1. DangerDarrin on

    In before the “wE sHoUlDn’T bE dEaLiNg WiTh ChInA” comments. They are like clockwork in any of these Chinese related threads

  2. MilkyWayObserver on

    This would actually be the perfect scenario to test how fast the Major Projects Office can get pipelines going if some companies see opportunity.

    Wish we had more pipelines built in the last 10 years, we would be golden right now.

  3. The answer lies in local energy self reliance, only renewables and storage offer that path. Magastan has triggered the greatest move against Toxic Fossil energy ever.

  4. Moomoomilkpapi on

    I am not personally involved in the energy sector in Canada so this is just an outsider opinion.

    Putting aside the economic (costs) and overall other hurdles (for example political) for oil export, the fact that the average Canadian (who isn’t wealthy either via liquid or invested funds (including housing)) has to still struggle and will struggle EVEN MORE once real inflation possibly occurs if oil continues to rise is insane.

    Canada should have a nationalized government-owned oil company. Canada cannot control overall global fuel prices but if anything at least when oil prices go up (which basically affects almost everything in some way relevant to modern life in Canada) then Canada can at least receive higher premium profits from oil sales to help offset cost of living increases for the general population.

    It would be cool if we also had refinery capacity (if this would be hypothetically possible) to make enough gas to create a stabilized pricing of gas across all of Canada for gas pumps as fuel costs can significantly affect the financial circumstances of average Canadians (as driving is essential in this country for non-metropolitan larger cities or areas).

  5. Yup Americans keep saying they don’t need us….so let’s work with other countries that do.

  6. Our oil is harder to refine and we don’t have the infrastructure to cheaply and efficiently ship it out to the markets in the Asia-Pacific.

    It’s been 4 years since the war in Ukraine and the EU has been trying to limit if not end its dependence on Russian energy. I wonder how much progress we’ve made to be a replacement for Russian energy?

  7. asoupconofsoup on

    There will never be a pipeline to the central or North coast. It will be tied up in court cases for years. We need to refine our own oil if we want to be secure as a nation. Its ridiculous that we buy all our resources back from the US at inflated prices.

  8. LastNightsHangover on

    75% of TMX already goes to China

    It’s closer & faster to ship from Canada to China, Japan and Korea than it is from the Straight of Hormuz. Add in the obvious geopolitical risks and it’s a no-brainer.

    Our new tidewater pipeline will *secure* the energy security of Asia-Pacific.

    This is the time to go!

  9. Hard no. The gasoline spiked here higher than in all the other G7 countries, including the European ones that actually get their oil from the Middle East.

    The gasoline produced in Canada has risen to nearly unaffordable prices for Canadians….And thats WITH limited international market access and the discounted price per barrel of WCS. The supply and demand equation currently should favor domestic Canadian consumers, and yet they’ve found a way to ensure than it doesn’t.

    Every extra pipeline that gets built to tidewater, every new market that gets found for Canadian oil will just perpetually raise energy costs for Canadians. All these projects should be blocked and resisted until such time that Canadian oil producers are able to operate their businesses in a way thats beneficial to the national interest.

  10. easyjimi1974 on

    Good thing Trudeau bravely shut down all those LNG and oil sands projects, otherwise Canada would be poised to capitalize on this once-in-a-century moment.

  11. lcdr_hairyass on

    Can we start denominating oil trade in CAD? That might really honk off Uncle Donny.

  12. Frequently_lucky on

    Chinese influence in Canada is as dangerous as Maga’s. Let’s not replace one threat with another.

  13. If only federal regulations and aboriginals in this country would step aside and let us build!

  14. Nothing happens in BC unless a couple thousand grifters get their envelope with $$$.

  15. ManintheGyre on

    Hell yes to LNG on the coast, hell no to building another TMX.

    We’ve learned that lesson the hard way! Its just a loser of a project.

    TMX had a budget of $5b. Kinder Morgan spent 3 years to finally get it approved but they concluded that it is a financial money pit and walked away. It ended up needing Trudeau to buy the whole project from KM and the budget eventually needed another $29b of taxpayer funds to actually get it done.

    For the benefit of Alberta and the national interest, this lesson has been learned the hard way and shall not be repeated.

    What’s the real problem preventing another pipeline? Trudeau and Notley aren’t around anymore. First Nations? Carney? Eby? Some other convenient scapegoat?

    No, its just physics and economics. Too far, too complex, too risky, too remote, not enough good labour, too many unknowns and variables, too many stakeholders. And on the other side of the scale, there’s not enough value to make it worthwhile. Another pipeline to the coast would just be another loser of a project.

    All the weeping and wailing from Alberta isn’t going to flatten the Rockies or conjure up another 38,000 tradespeople. It’s not going to satisfy NEB approval, 1,200 permits, 130 indigenous communities, and 157 required conditions. Move on. Its not going to happen!

  16. Affectionate_Mall_49 on

    Imagine if just as a country tried over the last few decades, and tried developing our natural resources. Instead we half ass it, and made sure to consult for decades.

  17. AssociationMore242 on

    Sadly it will be a Chinese project for Chinese consumption only. And then China will have two sources, so can screw Canada anytime they want.