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As Canadian petroleum producers face capacity limits on export pipelines and legal challenges to build more, a Calgary-based company is testing a new way to transport oilsands by rail and sea in shipping containers that gets around the contentious oil tanker ban.

Calgary-based Melius Energy melts pure bitumen, as the oilsands are known, and pours it into shipping containers after removing diluting agents. When cool, the intermodal containers can be stacked on ships and trains and hauled to market. The company just completed its first test shipment of 130 barrels from Edmonton to Prince Rupert, B.C., to China.

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“This is the first shipment — but Melius is prepared to commercialize today. Currently they are working towards finalizing partnerships with several producers in Canada,” according to an emailed statement on behalf of the company.