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“The real question is, does the province take that into account and act strategically or do they sort of ignore it and make decisions which don’t take into account the size of their role or the way it’s integrated across all these aspects?”

Alberta has the option to collect 400,000 barrels a day of bitumen instead of cash royalties. It signed an agreement in March to purchase up to 100,000 barrels a day of firm service on TransCanada Corp.’s proposed Energy East pipeline.

Calgary-based TransCanada wants to convert portions of its Alberta-to-Quebec natural gas system to carry oil and extend it 1,400 kilometres to Saint John, N.B., home to Irving Oil Ltd.’s 300,000-barrel-a-day refinery.

Long-haul gas shipments on the 14,000-kilometre system have dropped precipitously amid new competition from shale gas in eastern markets, forcing TransCanada to consider new service models for the beleaguered pipe.

The company began soliciting bids from oil companies and refineries interested in shipping crude on the system in April.

Alberta signed up for capacity in March in response to an overture from TransCanada, Ken Hughes, the provincial energy minister, said in an interview this week. The province estimates its commitment would cost $5-billion in shipping fees over 20 years.

“Our goal is to make sure the infrastructure gets built” even “if it takes our commitment to make something happen,” Mr. Hughes said, calling the pipeline “an important pan-Canadian initiative.” A spokesman for the company said it doesn’t comment on negotiations with potential shippers.