EDMONTON: Canada could add over a million barrels per day (bpd) of oil export capacity to the United States over the next two years, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney told a US Senate committee on Tuesday.

He also urged Senators to consider building a major new cross-border oil pipeline that would help ensure US energy security, as countries around the world face rising crude prices and a scramble for supply following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Kenney and federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson were in Washington addressing Senate energy and natural resources committee on the issue of energy security.

The Canadian government has previously said Canada could increase oil exports via pipeline by 300,000 bpd by the end of this year.

Kenney said an extra 200,000 bpd on top of that could be shipped south by rail, while technical improvements from midstream companies could add as much as 400,000 bpd of pipeline capacity by next year.

The Canadian government-owned Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project is also expected to be finished late next year, and will add nearly 600,000 bpd, he said.

“Alberta can be a huge part of the solution to the problem of American energy inflation and the cost of living crisis,” Kenney said, adding the province is the largest source of US energy imports, providing 60% of oil and gas imports.

“With political will from Washington we could also get another major pipeline built that would forever allow the United States to free itself from imports from hostile regimes.” US President Joe Biden revoked a key permit for the Keystone XL pipeline in early 2021, infuriating the Canadian energy industry.