Canada Energy Regulator to hold hearing Friday on Trans Mountain pipeline request -filing (updated)

Canada Energy Partners

09/01/2024 15:04

(Adds details of filing, background about construction change)
    By Rod Nickel
       WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The Canada Energy
Regulator (CER) will hold a hearing on Friday about Trans
Mountain Corp's  TMC.UL  request for a change in construction to
complete expansion of its oil pipeline from Alberta to British
Columbia, according to a filing on Monday.
    The CER said in a letter to the Canadian government-owned
pipeline company, filed on the regulator's website, that it
needs more information and will conduct an oral hearing in
Calgary.
        The regulator said it would ask questions of Trans
Mountain and the company would have a brief opportunity to make
a final argument.
  
        Trans Mountain had asked the CER to allow it to install
smaller-diameter pipe in a 1.4-mile (2.3 km) section of the
nearly completed oil pipeline's route after encountering
challenging drilling conditions in a mountainous area between
Hope and Chilliwack, British Columbia.
  
        The CER denied the request on Dec. 5, later saying that
the application did not adequately address concerns about
pipeline integrity and the environment. Trans Mountain then
asked the regulator to reverse that decision on Dec. 14, warning
of a possibly "catastrophic" two-year delay and billions of
dollars in losses.
  
        Trans Mountain had asked for a decision no later than
Jan. 9.
  

 (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Editing by
Franklin Paul)
 ((rod.nickel@tr.com; X: @RodNickel_Rtrs;))