Pipeline Online Podcast

On Sept. 29, Premier Scott Moe outlined Saskatchewan's large nuclear power generation ambitions. Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Jeremy Harrison, who is also the Minister Responsible for SaskPower, digs into what this means. Small modular reactors, coal refurbishment, natural gas power generation are also tackled. The expected court decision on the future of coal is expected on Oct. 19. At the end, the discussion touches on recent helium developments. The key takeaway is that SMRs may take a few more years to start compared to what had been planned, due to delays of building the first SMRs in Ontario. 

Heather Exner-Pirot of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute is one of the leading voices in what's going on in the energy industry. She recently spoke at the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show. With Saskatchewan planning its nuclear future, another pipeline to the Pacific in the works, another to the south, Churchill, LNG Canada 2, this podcast covered a lot of ground. 

Should Saskatchewan rejuvenate its coal-fired power generation fleet? This episode is a debate on that topic, with sustainable energy consultant Mitch Carlson, as the guest. Carlson worked as an engineer for SaskEnergy and is originally from Craik. He now has a sustainable energy consulting business based on Vancouver Island. The discussion goes into reliability, cost of natural gas, unreliability of wind and solar, and much more. 

Chris Beaudry, Saskatchewan Minister of Energy and Resources, joins the Pipeline Online Podcast to speak about the ontoing trade war, pipelines, Venezuela, and growing Saskatchewan oil production. Beaudry will be speaking at the upcoming Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show in mid-September. 

The Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show is coming up Sept. 16 and 17, and Mayor Gerald Aalbers has had heavy involvement with it over the years. If Saskatchewan is going to significantly grow oil production, it's going to be in the Lloydminster area. The conversation also covers pipelines and possible nuclear development. 

The Petroleum Technology Research Centre, or PTRC, is tasked with finding ways to increase Saskatchewan's petroleum production. Erik Nickel is a professional geologist and the new president and CEO of the PTRC. 

Helium Evolution is an active player in the Saskatchewan helium space. Helium is one of the materials dramatically affected by the Iran War. James Baker is chair of Helium Evolution and one if its founders. In 2024 he was honoured as a Southeast Saskatchewan Legend.

Back in 2018, then-Senator David Tkachuk made a rather prophetic speach about the impacts of Bill C-69. We talked to him about that, what's happened since, and what's going on with the two most recent pipeline announcements to the west and east of Alberta. Tkachuk thinks all the government involvement could be a way of nationalizing the pipeline industry. Check it out. Originally broadcast July 6, 2026

Jason LeBlanc and Jake Predinchuk of Steffes Auctioneers explain how auctions are a key part of the business cycle in the energy industry.

On June 3 we ran into Regina-Qu'Appelle MP Andrew Scheer at the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show. In this episode, recorded June 8, we touch base on what's happening with energy on the federal stage. Will the Liberals ever allow another pipeline to be built to the coast?