Kinder Morgan is going ahead with plans for a controversial $5 billion project that would facilitate the transportation of crude oil from the Alberta oil sands to British Columbia.
As reported in the Journal of Commerce, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners is pushing forward with its plan to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline that carries crude west from the oil sands for export from Vancouver.
The $5 billion proposal would see capacity along the pipeline more than doubled, from 300,000 to 850,000 barrels per day. The pipeline itself would be twinned wherever possible, while storage tanks would be added at existing pump stations and new pump stations would be added. The Westridge Marine Terminal would also be expanded.
The project was approved by the National Energy Board (NEB) in December of last year, a decision that caused eight B.C. mayors to write the board asking that future expansions be subject to a public consultation process. Those mayors had expected more public consultation in some of the communities that would be impacted by the expansion, in particular those along the coast.
Ian Anderson, president of Kinder Morgan Canada, said the calls for more consultation will be heeded.
“We are committed to an 18 to 24 month inclusive, extensive and thorough engagement on all aspects of the project with local communities along the proposed route and marine corridor, including First Nations and Aboriginal groups, environmental organizations and all other interested parties,” he said. “We will also consider providing financial support to local communities for environmental initiatives. We have been planning for this day for many years and we are keen to start in depth engagement this summer.”
The NEB’s approval of the project came after the adoption of a resolution in October of last year that called for any expansion to oil transportation facilities – whether by pipeline or tanker – to be subject to rigorous environmental assessment processes and a strong consultation process that would include First Nations groups and communities affected.
As this project moves forward, others are also in the works. The TransCanada Corporation is looking to build a pipeline to carry bitumen to the U.S. Gulf Coast, while Enbridge hopes to build a pipeline from the oil sands to Kitimat, B.C.
