US reviews $7bn keystone pipeline project

Amid urgings from Republican lawmakers, the White House on Thursday said the review of the trans-border Keystone Pipeline project is "moving forward" but stopped short of indicating whether a final decision had been made to approve the massive project. Republicans have pressed President Barack Obama to approve the USD seven billion Keystone XL pipeline that would carry crude oil over from Alberta, Canada, to multiple destinations in the United States. The White House told reporters that the State Department is looking whether the administration should approve the massive project. "That process is moving forward and will result in a decision, White House Spokesman Jay Carney told reporters. In the meantime, Carney pointed out the administration's "all-of-the-above" energy strategy, which includes development of US natural resources and renewable energies, is resulting "record-high production of natural gas and has led to a situation where we're importing less fossil fuel energy, less oil than we had from abroad for the past 16 years." "We're headed towards a future that will make us more energy-independent and therefore more secure, less dependent on the resources of countries and regions that are -- can be volatile, less subject to the fluctuations in prices of oil and gas. And that's a good thing," Carney said. Republicans previously pressed Obama on the pipeline project, pushing a congressional measure forcing the president to decide within two months. The White House denied the pipeline's initial permit application in early 2012, blaming Republicans for forcing Obama's hand ahead of a complete environmental review.