Trans Mountain Pipeline Plans Additional Capacity Expansion

Trans Mountain Corp. will hold a second open season for its expanded pipeline that carries crude from Alberta to the western Canadian coast. Bloomberg reported that the company is seeking buyers for 72,000 barrels per day of additional capacity. The operator will increase capacity by another 90,000 barrels daily through the use of drag-reducing agents, chief executive Mark Maki said.

The first open season, launched in early April, aims to raise the share of capacity under long-term contracts to 90 percent from 80 percent.

Earlier plans called for the chemical-additive boost to begin by the start of next year. Reports of a further capacity increase first appeared last year, also citing Maki. The pipeline runs from Edmonton, Alberta, to a marine terminal near Vancouver, British Columbia.