The expansion represents a capital investment of $5.4 billion and will complete the twinning of the existing pipeline from Strathcona County, Alberta, to Burnaby, British Columbia.

Expansion map. Click to enlarge.

Thirteen companies have signed long-term contracts with Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (Trans Mountain) operated by Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. and owned by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.: BP Canada Energy Trading Company; Canadian Natural Resources; Canadian Oil Sands Limited; Cenovus Energy Inc.; Devon Canada Corporation; Husky Energy Marketing Inc.; Imperial Oil Limited; Nexen Marketing Inc.; Statoil Canada Ltd.; Suncor Energy Marketing Inc.; Suncor Energy Products Partnership; Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company; and Total E&P Canada Ltd.

Trans Mountain applied to the National Energy Board (NEB) in 2012 for approval of the toll methodology that would govern an expanded Trans Mountain pipeline and expects a decision by mid-2013.

Trans Mountain expects to file a Facilities Application with the National Energy Board (NEB) in late 2013, for authorization to build and operate the necessary facilities for the proposed expansion. The Application will include the environmental, socio-economic, Aboriginal engagement, landowner and public consultation and engineering components and initiate a comprehensive regulatory and public review process. If approved, the project would be operational in 2017.

For almost 60 years, the 1,150-km (715-mile) Trans Mountain pipeline system has been providing the only West Coast access for Canadian oil products, including the majority of the gasoline supplied to the interior and south coast of British Columbia.