Trans Mountain Variance Request Approved

Canada’s Trans Mountain had its pipeline variance change request approved by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) on Friday at an appeal after it was initially rejected.

• The initial rejection risked adding 2 years to the project, Trans Mountain claimed.
• The appeal approval opens the project to completing early this year.
• Heavy crude prices have faced pressure because of the delays over fears the project may be delayed by years.
• The project is scheduled to start operating by the end of March.
• The pipeline expansion project will nearly triple the pipeline's current capacity, from 300,000 bpd to 890,000 bpd when completed, opening up new export options for Canadian oil sands to Asian and West Coast markets.