April 13, 2022

ICYMI: Manchin Visits Alberta To Discuss North American Energy Security

Manchin hosted by Premier Kenney, meets with Canadian leaders and tours energy facilities to highlight importance of a North American Energy Alliance

Washington, DC – This week, Premier Jason Kenney welcomed U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, to Alberta, Canada to discuss increased energy and climate cooperation between Canada and the United States. During the visit, Chairman Manchin and Premier Kenney toured the oil sands and met with representatives from Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, the Canadian Federal Government and energy business leaders to consider how a North American Energy Alliance can strengthen our collective energy security while combatting climate change and promoting global peace and stability.

“I was honored to visit Alberta, Canada with Premier Jason Kenney to discuss the importance of strengthening North America’s collective energy security. Canada, like the United States, is blessed with abundant natural resources that can be used to eliminate our dependence on Russian and Chinese energy and critical mineral supply chains. A strong North American Energy Alliance can fuel worldwide economic development and allow us to meet our shared climate goals while significantly reducing Russia and China’s unwarranted influence on the global community,” said Chairman Manchin.

“Alberta can and should be the replacement for Russian oil imports, but the conversation is larger than that. Our energy industry maintains the highest environmental, human rights and employment standards in the world – something that cannot be said for dictator oil from places like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Iran. North American energy security needs Alberta oil and gas,” said Premier Jason Kenney.

A summary of the visit is described below.
  • On Monday morning, Chairman Manchin toured Suncor Energy’s open-pit oil sand mining facility. The facility is located in Alberta’s Athabasca region and is one of the most significant oil sands mines in the region.
  • On Monday afternoon, Chairman Manchin visited Cenovus Energy’s Christina Lake facility. The facility is one of the most efficient steam-assisted gravity drainage facilities in the industry and produces approximately 250,000 barrels/day of crude oil.
  • On Tuesday morning, Chairman Manchin participated in a U.S. State Department-led critical minerals roundtable featuring American representatives, Canadian federal and provincial officials and local industry leaders.
  • On Tuesday afternoon, Chairman Manchin and Premier Kenney met with Canadian government and business leaders from the oil and gas, electricity and other sectors to discuss the North American Energy Alliance. Chairman Manchin and Premier Kenney then convened a press conference to highlight the importance of energy cooperation and partnership amongst the major North American countries.