Name of the Project
Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

Location
The pipeline will run between Strathcona County (near Edmonton), Alberta and Burnaby in British Columbia, Canada.

Client
Kinder Morgan.

Project Description
The original Trans Mountain pipeline was built in 1953 and continues to operate. The project proposes a 980 km expansion of this 1 150 km pipeline. The expansion, if approved, will create a twinned pipeline that will increase the nominal capacity of the system from 300 000 bbl/d to 890 000 bbl/d.

The existing line will carry refined products and synthetic and light crude oils, with capability to carry heavy crude oils.

About 73% of the proposed route will use the existing right of way; 16% will follow other linear infrastructure, such as TELUS, hydro or highways; and 11% will be new right-of-way infrastructure.

The project includes the reactivation of 193 km of pipeline; the construction of 12 new pumpstations; the addition of 20 new tanks to the existing storage terminals in Burnaby (14), Sumas (1) and Edmonton (5); and the expansion of the Westridge marine terminal by three berths.

Potential Job Creation
British Columbians will be first in line for jobs at the project, which entails more than 75 000 person-years of employment. It will also boost the province's gross domestic product by C$19.1-billion during construction and operations over 20 years and generate more than $2.2-billion in tax revenue for provincial and local governments.

Value
The project is expected to cost about $7.4-billion.

Duration
The project is expected to begin construction this year and to be brought into service in 2019.

Latest Developments
The British Columbia provincial government has reiterated its opposition against the flow of oil over its soil.

While proponents for the Trans Mountain expansion project have argued that the expansion of Canada's ability to reach new markets in Asia needs to be designated as a national priority, the provincial coalition government of British Columbia has again outlined plans to stop the project.

The provincial government plans to appear before the National Energy Board (NEB) regarding "constitutional issues" relating to Trans Mountain work at the Burnaby and Westridge marine terminals, located within the Burrard Inlet – a pristine marine environment surrounded by some of the most expensive real estate in the world.

Trans Mountain has approached the NEB to approve its starting terminal construction work without municipal consent.

Queen's Counsel member Thomas Berger, on behalf of the provincial government, has asked the NEB to dismiss outright Trans Mountain’s suggestion of abridged timelines for future applications by Trans Mountain to challenge decisions of municipalities and the province regarding permits for the project. He has said the province's position serves to ensure it has enough opportunity to defend its decisions in the future.

Berger has been retained as external counsel to government in the legal actions relating to the pipeline expansion project. He will take over as lead counsel in the province’s response to the court challenge brought by the Squamish Nation over the provincial approval of the project, and will advise the province on intervening in legal hearings surrounding the federal government’s approval of Trans Mountain.

There are currently 19 legal challenges against the project, which allege that the federal and provincial decisions to approve Trans Mountain were made unconstitutionally.

The project has undergone an unprecedented level of scrutiny and review and is subject to 157 conditions from the NEB and 37 conditions attached to the environmental certificate received in early January from the previous Liberal-led government of British Columbia.

A date for the NEB hearing has not yet been set.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Kinder Morgan, tel + 1 855 908 9734 or email media@transmountain.com.
Trans Mountain, tel 1 866 514 6700 or email info@transmountain.com.