Political Scientist sees issues with NDP Refinery Plan
Posted December 12, 2018 6:35 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – A local political scientist is speaking up after Premier Rachel Notley’s refinery announcement on Tuesday.
Duane Bratt from Mount Royal University said that when the NDP was in opposition they talked about refineries and upgrading all the time, but it’s taken them three and a half years in office to mention it again.
He adds that if it made financial sense the private sector would’ve already been building them
Bratt said refineries cost billions of dollars and there are entire regulatory processes around building them, making it a risky venture.
“I can see the benefits of a refinery, I’m not sure about the economics of a refinery. But this would take 10 years or longer, it is not a short-term solution,” Bratt said.
He explains even it is was built you still need a way to get the refined crude to market whether that pipeline is carrying bitumen or gasoline you still need a pipe.
