The Trans Mountain Expansion Project: An Indigenous Bid for the Future of Energy Infrastructure

In December 2019, Pembina Pipeline Corporation (Pembina) must evaluate an opportunity to partner with the Western Indigenous Pipeline Group (WIPG) to bid for the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) project owned by the Canadian government. Pembina’s chief executive officer had previously stated that the company was unlikely to bid on the pipeline due to the challenging legal landscape, especially regarding Indigenous land rights. However, since WIPG consists of Indigenous communities along the pipeline’s route, partnering could mitigate these concerns. If the project succeeds, the payback could solidify Pembina’s position as a market leader in oil and gas. Should Pembina proceed with the WIPG partnership? And if they do, how should they manage relations with governments and other stakeholders?

This case is intended for modules focused on cross-sectorial partnerships at the undergraduate or graduate level in a strategy or business and environment course. This case will teach students how to think critically about the risks and rewards of pursuing a cross-sectorial partnership. It will teach students to reflect on stakeholders of interest within a complex legal and political landscape and prompt students to consider how they might manage each of these stakeholders. Not only will this case help give students an inside view into the oil and gas industry, but it will also allow them to balance corporate goals against societal, legal, and environmental concerns. On completion of this case, students should be able to<ul><li>conduct a cost-benefit analysis to assess the strategic fit of a cross-sectorial partnership;</li><li>analyze how to manage stakeholder negotiations and political risk associated with pipelines; and</li><li>examine how to gain internal buy-in for initiatives among executives with diverse perspectives.</li></ul>

• Oil and Gas Pipeline
• Indigenous/First Nations
• Stakeholders
• Reconciliation
• Energy