Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline has officially begun commercial operation , marking the end of an extended and contentious development period for one of the most important and debated energy projects in Canada.
The Canadian Trans Mountain Pipeline
The project received the final approval needed last Tuesday to begin transporting oil from the oil sands to Canada’s Pacific coast. At the time of the inauguration, the pipeline was at 70% of its capacity , and the rates and tolls for transporters had already been established, according to the operating company.
This commissioning symbolizes the closing of a cycle of difficulties that included delays, construction complications, legal disputes and intense resistance from environmental groups. The cost of the project reached approximately US$25 billion , a figure that far exceeded the initial budget, and its completion was postponed by seven years compared to the original plan.
Despite the challenges, the expansion has nearly tripled the pipeline’s capacity to 890,000 barrels a day, expanding the amount of oil producers in Alberta can export to growing markets in Asia. This expansion is expected to diversify export markets and help improve Canadian oil price competitiveness.
The Trans Mountain expansion project. Source: TransMtn
Shipments scheduled through this new infrastructure are already destined for China, California and India, and the first tankers are anticipated to receive cargoes in mid-May, according to information provided by Trans Mountain.
The controversy over the pipeline
Throughout its development, the pipeline faced constant opposition from numerous British Columbians and Indigenous communities , who considered it a critical environmental risk. The situation escalated to the point that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government acquired the Kinder Morgan project in 2018 to avoid its possible cancellation.
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Source: The Republic
Photo: TransMtn
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