I was waiting for Mr. Black’s second column regarding shipping bitumen (Refinery will convert bitumen to light fuels, Letters, May 1), but then Mr. Green in his letter (Build a refinery in Fort McMurray instead, Letters, May 1) took the words out of my mouth.
I fully agree with Mr. Black’s contention that bitumen, even if diluted, should not be put on tankers and with Mr. Green’s suggestion that it should not be put in pipelines either, for all the same reasons Mr. Black outlined in his columns. The only product shipped, either way, should be refined feedstock. The threat to the coastal and inland environment is just not acceptable since bitumen when spilled can’t be cleaned up, and a spill will happen sooner or later. North-eastern B.C. or Alberta has the water and the energy to support the refining process. Canada would keep the construction and ongoing jobs and be able to market the valuable by-products.
I would really like Mr. Black to comment on this and to tell us why he thinks a refinery on the coast is such a good idea.
Hartmut Schmid,
Hope, B.C.