Canadian court allows appeal against sour gas pipeline

The Court of Appeal of Alberta, Canada has granted a real estate developer permission to appeal against the operation of a sour gas pipeline. The case involves a group of industrial real estate development companies known collectively as Fort Industrial, who are opposing two decisions by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) which allowed the sour gas line to continue operating, according to news reports. The 730-metre pipeline, owned and operated by Chemtrade Logistics, extends through the outskirts of Fort Saskatchewan and its industrial lands.

In 2019, the AER allowed Chemtrade to amend its pipeline license for the sour gas line – which carries hydrogen sulphide-rich gas – for safety reasons, expanding its required development setback buffer zone to 1.5 kilometers for surrounding developments, thus restricting what could be built on surrounding land. In its decision, the Court questioned the AER’s decision, saying the company had failed to conduct the necessary consultations with the local community and the municipality.