China eyes Prince Rupert as transit spot for oil needs

China's National oil company, China National Petroleum Corporation is seeking to strengthen its business ties with Canada and Alberta's oil patch in particular, with a thought to making Prince Rupert as its key shipment point.

In a National Post story from Monday, the prospect of a major energy corridor to link Alberta's oil supplies (and maybe beyond) with the growing needs of China is examined, the article outlines the growing interest in building a relationship with Canada, suggesting that such an arrangement would be the "best fit" for the country and its energy requirements.

The corridor envisioned by the Chinese state company would stretch from from northern Saskatchewan, through northern Alberta, Edmonton and over to Prince Rupert, where oil would be loaded onto tankers for shipment.

Of course there is no shortage of government studies to be done before such an ambitious project as this would ever get started, there is the need for environmental impacts, terminal construction and such, but it calls into mind recent observations from Canadian National over it's "rolling pipeline", a format which would seem to fit in nicely with the energy corridor plans of the Chinese.

The last time the Chinese showed an interest in the Alberta oil patch, there was lukewarm reception from Canadian companies and a sense of growing concern from the United States about their interest on the North American continent.

To that end, the Chinese are apparently hoping to engage multi levels of government into the discussions, hopeful that this time their seeding efforts result in bumper results over the next few years.