TransCanada announced Thursday that its Energy East Pipeline project no longer includes construction of a port in Quebec.

The Calgary-based oil company said its decision takes into account multiple criticisms levied by local authorities, key stakeholders and customers.

“Adjustments to the Energy East pipeline project after continuing to listen to local communities, key stakeholders and its customers," a news release issued Thursday stated.

Russ Girling, President and CEO of TransCanada, said the company is still planning to construct the East Energy Pipeline, which will deliver bitumen to refineries in Quebec and New Brunswick.

TransCanada says it will submit its modified plans for the Energy East pipeline to the National Energy Board.

Last April, TransCanada had already indicated that it was abandoning its maritime terminal project and oil storage tanks near the port of Gros Cacouna on the St. Lawrence River after protesters fought to protest a beluga habitat there.

Even without an oil terminal, the pipeline would still run through Quebec territory.

“So from our standpoint, this news does not change the fact that there are seven conditions that we put forth in November of 2014,” said Environment Minister David Heurtel.

Premier Philippe Couillard said his government still has demands that must be met before it will approve the pipeline project.

"We asked them to fulfill seven conditions, one of them is an economic impact in Quebec, a positive economic impact in Quebec," said the premier.

"It's also environment, security, respect of communities. All of those conditions which you'll remember we tabled with Ontario."  

The initial project was met with much opposition in Quebec.

“It remains to be seen whether or not this project is a good project for the province of Quebec,” said Energy & Natural Resources Minister Pierre Arcand. “We want to see clearly economic benefits for the province of Quebec.”

This change in the project scope as well as adjustments to its schedule should lead to its completion by 2020, allowing the pipeline to move more than 1 billion barrels of oil per day.

TransCanada contends that pipelines are the safest way to ship oil, and says a pipeline to the east coast would reduce the number of rail cars carrying oil by 1.600 each day.