Canada regulator approves final permits for Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (updated)

Canada Energy Partners

30/04/2024 22:25

(Recasts and adds details on final permits and expansion
project in paragraphs 1-6)
    By Nia Williams and Anushree Ashish Mukherjee
       April 30 (Reuters) - The Canada Energy Regulator (CER)
on Tuesday approved the final permits for the Trans Mountain oil
pipeline expansion, clearing the way for the project to start
operating after years of delays and massive cost overruns.
        The C$34 billion ($24.69 billion) pipeline expansion,
bought by the Canadian government in 2018 to ensure it went
ahead, will nearly triple the flow of crude from Alberta to the
Pacific coast to 890,000 barrels per day (bpd).
        Trans Mountain said this month the pipeline would start
operating on May 1, but some shippers including Canadian Natural
Resources Ltd  CNQ.TO , were skeptical it would receive all
necessary permits from the CER in time. 
        The pipeline is now authorized to carry crude from Trans
Mountain's Edmonton Terminal in Alberta to its Westridge Marine
Terminal in British Columbia, the regulator said in a statement.
    "Today marks a significant milestone," CER Chief Executive
Tracy Sletto said.
    Trans Mountain said last week it would complete line fill on
the expanded pipeline in early May and it expected the first
tanker to load at Westridge dock in the second half of the
month.    
($1 = 1.3773 Canadian dollars)

 (Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia and Anushree
Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese and Jamie Freed)
 ((anushree.ashishMukherjee@thomsonreuters.com;))