Keystone XL Pipeline Project Unlikely to Be Revived - Former US Official

The Keystone XL Pipeline project is unlikely to be revived and will barely affect the balance between the United States and Canada, former US Assistant Secretary of Energy Chuck McConnell told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The Keystone XL Pipeline project rejected by US President Barack Obama will unlikely be resuscitated, McConnell said.

“It’s not likely that the keystone project will be revived, and it is not likely that it will have much impact at all in terms of the balance between Canada and the US,” McConnell said.

On November 6, President Barack Obama announced his rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline was expected to bring more than 800,000 barrels of oil daily to US refineries.

McConnell explained that there are many other pipelines connecting Canada and the United States that can be used.

“The keystone project in particular became a political debate that is not nearly as impactful in terms of trade as other pipelines,” he argued.

Many of the original investors in the project, McConnell claimed, became “incredibly tired of all the fussing and all of the delays” and have moved on to other initiatives.

TransCanada, seeking over $15 billion in damages, filed a lawsuit against State Secretary John Kerry in connection with the rejection. The US District Court for the Southern District of Texas is scheduled to begin proceedings in the case on April 18.