Trans-Antarctic Pipeline Initiative

The Trans-Antarctic Pipeline is the largest pipeline in Antarctica. It is operated by Shops Island out of the Marmalade Islands and goes all around the Antarctic Ocean and across the mainland USA and Polaris, supplying multiple countries allied with Shops Island. It was created as a part of the 2014 Shopper Outreach Program.

Countries Supplied

 * ShopsIslandFlag2013.png Shops Island
 * NewDelphisStateFlag.png New Delphis
 * FrosianIslandsStateFlag.png Frosian Islands
 * MarmaladeIslandsFlag.png Marmalade Islands
 * FreezestoniaFlag.png Freezestonia
 * Moon Island Flag.png Moon Island
 * PowerIslandFlag.png L'île de la Puissance
 * Ed Island Flag.png '''Ed Island
 * Culldromeislesflag.png Culldrome Isles
 * NewUnitedProvincesFlag.png United Provinces
 * Freezelandflag.jpg Freezeland
 * Munijoch.jpg Munijoch
 * PolarisFlag.png Polaris
 * USA flag.PNG United States of Antarctica
 * BandeiraClubPenguin.png Club Penguin
 * SouthJoseonFlag.png South Joseon
 * Asaina flag.png Zhou
 * MaLOLaysiaFlag.png Malesia
 * Flag of the Seal Islands.svg Seal Islands

Background and Construction
As soon as Shops Island proposed the project, the government was met with harsh backlash. The Shopper government legislated unilateral and unwavering approval for the project, much to the distaste and outrage of environmentalist protestors. So, the environmentalists made a case to the UAN regarding potential harm to wildlife, nature, and the oceans. This protest quickly turned into an international legal case, with the Shopper government and the oil companies on one side, and the environmentalists on the other. In the midst of this conflict, six construction and pipeline companies banded together to form Trans-Antarctic Pipelines, who would be responsible for building the pipeline. When the UAN General Assembly held a vote regarding the pipeline's construction - a whole month after the case was filed - the assembly was split; 16-16. By now, the Shoppers were thoroughly annoyed with the bureaucratic nightmare and as such, decided to veto the case in their favor, as Shops Island is a member of the UAN Security Council.

Trans-Antarctic Pipelines Inc. was riding on the heels of the legal suit the entire time, and started preparing equipment, employees, and resources immediately after Shops Island had vetoed the pipeline case in their favor. Over the next half month, machinery and pipelining ships sent across Antarctica to begin construction. To save time, the company split the line into fifteen different sections that were to be tackled all at once. By October 2014, construction was underway. Trans-Antarctic Pipelines spent insane amounts of money to keep the project on track and in function. Quite frankly, they didn't care how much money it cost. Tens of thousands of workers toiled day and night to get the pipeline done on time. These workers stayed in hundreds of camps and on ships set up all along the pipeline.

To keep the project on track and to keep workers from striking, the Shopper government and Trans-Antarctic pipelines gave workers high wages and tolerance for quite a bit of bad behavior in exchange for a pact to not strike. While this kept the project on track, it also led to havoc in the work camps, and eventually, organized crime rings. Doom Weed and other illegal substance trafficking, as well as theft of resources and machinery, had become frequent and a part of life.

However, despite all the legal hurdles and widespread misdemeanors among the workers, the pipeline was finished in full by December 2014, a month ahead of schedule, and 10 billion WB$ over budget.

Outline


The Trans-Antarctic Pipeline goes all the way around Antarctica, hitting numerous countries along the way. It is mostly submerged and protected underwater, but a large section of the pipeline also goes across the Antarctic mainland, through Polaris, New Delphis, and the USA. The main oil source for the pipeline is at the Marmalade Islands, where the line both starts and ends. Along the pipeline, there are numerous terminals in which the flow of petroleum can be monitored and adjusted, and even halted as needed. The pipes that make up the pipeline are ten feet in diameter, and inside them hold three smaller pipes. This helps get oil to some parts of the line quickly, so oil does not have to travel the entire route to get to a certain destination - instead, it can take the shortest path. Overall, the pipeline is the largest of its kind and the longest ever constructed in Antarctica.

Effects
The Trans-Antarctic Pipeline has given Shops Island new leverage on the Antarctic stage, as well as tighter and friendlier bonds with the countries connected to the pipeline. Shops Island gives the countries oil for dirt cheap, under the condition that they all have Shops' back in a war, as well as the condition that all countries will conduct tariff-free trade with Shops Island. Since it has been constructed, the Trans-Antarctic Pipeline has become an important trade and diplomatic link in the international community.

Criticism
The pipeline is likely the most controversial private enterprise in Shopper history. Environmental protestors challenged the project like never before, using every tool in the box in an effort to derail the project. Even after the pipeline was built, environmentalists still lobbied to have it shut down and tried to make Shops Island pay heftily for damage to nature. Other countries also criticized the project, notably Shopper adversaries such as East Pengolia and North Joseon, who stated that the pipeline was merely a stunt to increase Shops' imperialistic dominance and that the pipeline was an "act of subjugation, being forced upon the other countries involved". Neither Shops Island nor the oil companies responsible for the pipeline have responded to these comments.

In early 2018, calls have grown for the United Provinces to leave the Trans-Antarctic Pipeline Initiative and for a new Western Union Pipeline Initiative to be created in order for all Western Union countries to be completely independent of other countries. President Simon McClark was especially persistent in having it done and proposed created it at the 2018 Delphi Western Union Summit. The proposal was struck down, however, and by early 2019, McClark had recommitted to the Trans-Antarctic Pipeline Initiative anyway, saying it was "doing our country good".