TransCanada's proposed 830,000 bbl/d Keystone XL oil pipeline secured a positive environmental review from the US State Department, which ruled that a plan for an alternative route through Nebraska (United States) would have no significant environmental impacts. The Public Service Commission of Nebraska approved the project in December 2017 but not TransCanada’s preferred route.
Keystone XL would link the Alberta oil sands through Nebraska (US) to the Mexico Gulf coast refiners over a 1,897 km route and has been repeatedly delayed by the US Government. Following the recent election of US President Trump, the US State Department approved the pipeline permit in March 2017. However, the project is still opposed by environmental groups, Native American tribes and some landowners and facing a case before the Nebraska Supreme Court, which TransCanada expects to be resolved by the end of 2018. Preparatory works are expected to start in autumn 2018 in Montana and full construction could begin in 2019.
