Trans Mountain exploring capacity expansion projects but not a 3rd pipeline

Canadian pipeline relation Trans Mountain is looking astatine enlargement projects successful the abbreviated and agelong presumption that could adhd betwixt 200,000 and 300,000 barrels per time (bpd) of capableness to the company’s system, Jason Balasch, a vice president astatine the firm, said connected Thursday.

The pipeline, which tin presently transportation up to 890,000 bpd of crude from Alberta to Canada’s Pacific Coast for export, has been successful the spotlight aft U.S. President Donald Trump said his state would slap 10 per cent tariffs connected Canadian lipid imports.

The enactment has offered a mode for Canadian lipid producers to merchantability to planetary markets without relying connected the U.S. extended web of pipelines. The pipeline presently accounts for 9% of Canada’s full crude exports.

Trans Mountain is exploring short-term options, including utilizing a resistance reducing cause successful its pipeline to boost the flows and different semipermanent solutions similar adding pumps, Balasch said connected the sidelines of an lipid league successful Houston.

The institution is not looking to adhd a 3rd line, Balasch added.

Trans Mountain should beryllium capable to load a full of 28-30 tankers per period astatine Vancouver erstwhile larboard restrictions easiness to let nighttime clip transit, which is expected successful the 3rd quarter, helium added.

The Port of Vancouver is successful the process of installing navigation aids. When afloat operational, the upgrades volition let shippers to bring inbound unladen Aframax vessels astatine night, easing erstwhile daylight-only transit restrictions that person constricted Trans Mountain’s loadings.

Trans Mountain has truthful acold loaded a maximum of 24 Aframax vessels per month. Aframaxes typically transport up to 800,000 barrels, but astatine the company’s Westridge marine terminal they are constricted to loading astir 550,000 barrels due to the fact that of draught restrictions.

—Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar successful Houston; Editing by Leslie Adler and Alistair Bell