The National Energy Board (NEB), the independent economic regulatory body of Government of Canada, has reportedly announced to have approved the construction on the sections of Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion in Alberta and British Columbia. As per trusted sources, the board has permitted construction on more than 96 percent of the detailed route for segments 1 to 4 of the pipeline.
According to a statement released by the NEB, Trans Mountain has seemingly met all the pre-construction specifications for the pipeline expansion segments 1 to 4 from the Edmonton terminal to the Darfield pump station near Kamloops, British Columbia. The company can now commence construction of those segments of the pipeline which is inclusive of clearing the right of way – subject to other municipal, provincial, and federal regulations and permits.
The NEB has further mentioned that 72 per cent of the entire detailed route has been approved for the pipeline. However, two detailed route hearings remain active for the permitted segments and construction on them cannot be commenced while the hearings are active.
The project, which may seemingly face extensive opposition from political and environmental parties but is certain to relieve Canadian oil producers who have been relentlessly striving to get their crude to the market, finds support in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, claims Reuters.
As per trusted sources, hearings for the remaining segment of the route are scheduled to begin in October 2018 at Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Apparently, the members of the Métis Nation of Alberta have recently voted in favor of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion through British Columbia at a conference held on Sunday. The group, which has around 97,000 members, is one of the indigenous organizations that has expressed interest in buying into the CAD 4.5 billion project, cite trusted sources.