The Canadian government has delayed until June 18 its decision on the contested expansion of the Trans Mountain crude oil and products pipeline between Alberta and British Columbia.
Amarjeet Sohi, federal minister of natural resources, said the government needed more time to fulfill consultation commitments with indigenous groups.
The government ordered the National Energy Board last September to reconsider its prior approval of the project, which is opposed in British Columbia.
The NEB reported its new approval in February, subject to 156 conditions (OGJ Online, Mar. 28, 2019). The original deadline for the government’s decision was May 23.
The government bought the existing Trans Mountain system, which has capacity of 300,000 b/d, and the stymied 590,000-b/d expansion project from Kinder Morgan in May 2018 (OGJ Online, May 29, 2018).
