**Trans Mountain Corp. Seeks Approval for $4 Billion Pipeline Expansion**
*Calgary, Alberta – August 29, 2026* – Trans Mountain Corporation, a federal Crown corporation, filed an application on Thursday with the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) to expand its oil‑pipeline system that runs from the Edmonton area to Burnaby, British Columbia. If the CER approves the proposal and the company proceeds, the expansion would increase the line’s capacity by approximately 210,000 barrels per day (bpd).
The plan, estimated to cost about $4 billion, calls for the addition of new pumping stations and roughly 30 kilometres of pipe within the existing corridor. It would complement a smaller, ongoing program that uses drag‑reducing agents to raise the current throughput by roughly 10 percent, bringing the system’s operating capacity to around 890,000 bpd.
**Industry response**
Trans Mountain chief executive officer Mark Maki told reporters that demand for additional capacity “is going to be strong because it is needed.” He added that the United States’ current administration has been “tough to deal with” and expressed hope that bilateral trade conditions will improve. Maki emphasized the strategic importance of diversifying export routes, noting that “there’s a very strong case for Asia – and Canada’s got a huge role to play with those markets.”
Wood Mackenzie director of North American crude markets Dylan White said the western‑Canada pipeline network is “relatively highly utilized at this time.” He warned that continued growth in oil production could create bottlenecks as early as next year, or even this winter, if supply expands without additional capacity.
Tristan Goodman, president of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada, called the optimization “absolutely critical” for Alberta and Canada, but cautioned that it “is not sufficient, compared to what the long‑term potential is.” He advocated for further projects, including additional lines to the Pacific coast and routes heading south.
Alberta’s deputy energy minister Larry Kaumeyer described the project as “vital for Alberta and for Canada, particularly today,” adding that it would send a signal to Asian partners about Canada’s ability to increase oil shipments.
**Recent performance and context**
Trans Mountain reported that its pipeline operated at a record 94 percent utilization during the second quarter of 2024, transporting an average of 840,000 bpd between April and June. This represented an increase
Article and image source: calgaryherald.com
