The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, May 5, edition that Canada should expedite energy infrastructure projects to capitalize on the opportunity to boost exports, said International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol before visiting Ottawa this week. The Globe's Emma Graney writes that Dr. Birol will speak with Prime Minister Mark Carney and ministers. Tehran's closing of the Strait of Hormuz has choked off around 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas supplies. The crisis has ripped more than 14 million barrels a day from the world market and 110 billion cubic metres of gas, which will have a lasting impact on the global energy sector, regardless of when the conflict ends, Dr. Birol said. Oil and gas aren't the only two commodities now missing from world markets, Dr. Birol said, so are "trust and predictability," and that's where Canada comes in. He said Canada has a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to transition from having significant energy resources to becoming a major exporter. But sluggishness will hamper Canada's success. Dr. Birol made his comments as Ottawa and Alberta discuss options for a pipeline to the West Coast, stemming from the energy agreement the two governments signed in November.