U.S. Congress approves Keystone pipeline

The US Senate approved the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline on Thursday in a vote that could lead to another clash with the White House over the controversial project.

Senators voted 62-36 in favour of the Bill with nine Democrats siding with the Republican majority to pass through the legislation.

The Bill has now been passed to President Barack Obama who the White House has previously said would veto the project.

Congress would need two-thirds of each chamber of Congress to overcome a presidential veto.

The 875-mile (1,400km) pipeline would transfer around 830,000 barrels of heavy crude a day from Alberta, Canada, to the US state of Nebraska where it joins pipes running to Texas.

The Bill has pitted Republicans and other supporters, who say it will create much needed jobs, against many Democrats and environmentalists, who warn the pipeline will add to carbon emissions and worsen climate change.

Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell said: "We are hoping the president upon reflection will agree to sign on to a bill that the State Department said could create up to 42,000 jobs and the State Department said creates little to no impact on the environment."

Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer called the bill "a disgrace" adding that "we tried on our side to make this a better bill and they turned us away."

Obama has been critical of the pipeline, saying that it would primarily benefit Canadian oil firms.

No major environmental objections were raised by a State Department report in February, but the final recommendation was delayed amid a court battle over the project in Nebraska.

Democrats and Republicans attached a series of amendments to the Bill, including measures to promote energy efficiency and plans for a new oil spill fund.

The President has repeatedly indicated that he will not make a decision on the controversial pipeline until a final recommendation is provided by the State Department.

Obama has also said that he would not approve the pipeline if evidence shows that it will lead to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.