Carney and Smith want a new pipeline. So far, no company has stepped up to build it

None of the major pipeline companies have announced new projects in Western Canada.

For all the talk of whether Canada needs a new oil pipeline, there's one thing missing: a company wanting to build ...

There is a renewed pitch to build a major export pipeline in Western Canada.

(Kyle Bakx/CBC) None of the major pipeline companies have announced new projects in Western Canada.

For all the talk of whether Canada needs a new oil pipeline, there's one thing missing: a company wanting to build it.

In June (new window) , Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said there was no proponent and no proposal on the table by any company, but pledged, There will be soon.

The federal government is opening the Major Projects Office in Calgary (new window) with the mission of identifying critical infrastructure projects and fast-tracking their development.

The initial list of what Ottawa considers to be nation-building projects is expected to be released later this week.

The Alberta government is keen to see a new pipeline on that list, especially as Prime Minister Mark Carney has said it's highly, highly likely that such a proposal makes the cut.

Alberta's Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean says he is encouraged by Ottawa's eagerness to help speed along the development of a major new export pipeline from Alberta to the B.C.

I'm glad to see they recognize the need for that pipeline, the demand for that pipeline and the reality of that pipeline getting to tidewater would be so good for B.C., for Alberta and truly good for Canada, said Jean, who spoke with Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson about the issue on Friday morning.

Currently, none (new window) of the major pipeline companies have announced such a project or publicly expressed a desire to develop a big new oil pipeline in Western Canada.

The absence of a pipeline proposal is, in some ways, understandable, considering their cost, complexity and the history (new window) of failed and troubled projects over the last few decades.

Only a small handful of companies have the experience, capacity and deep pockets to develop and construct an export pipeline, and they would need to be willing to commit tens of billions of dollars and possibly a decade of time to pursue such a venture.

The recent Trans Mountain expansion underscores (new window) the struggles developers can face, such as frequent delays, massive cost overruns and repeated protests.

Ottawa had to rescue it from failure (new window) .

I would hope that we've got companies who are doing their due diligence and are going to put forward projects.

But, of course, at this point we don't know, said Grant Sprague, a former deputy minister for energy in Alberta.

Developing a pipeline project is a complicated process, he said, considering the work needed to plan the exact route, talk to dozens of local communities, and evaluate whether oil producers would sign contracts to actually use the pipeline.

It's not a 15-minute conversation and we are off to the races.

There needs to be that real due diligence done and people need to be confident, he said.

I don't care if it's a road, transmission lines or a pipeline, people along the route want to have their input.

The whole point of the Major Projects Office is to cut down on the time it takes federal regulators to assess infrastructure proposals, in hopes of fulfilling Carney's election night pledge (new window) to build, baby, build.

That could include a variety of projects from ports and nuclear power plants to new mines and pipelines.