-- Enbridge (ENB) said on Friday it has secured approval for its Sunrise Expansion Program, a $4 billion project to boost capacity on its Westcoast natural gas pipeline system in British Columbia.
The expansion of Enbridge's Westcoast pipeline system will add about 300 million cubic feet per day of natural gas transportation capacity to southern British Columbia, with construction scheduled to begin in July 2026 and in-service targeted for late 2028.
The project has been deemed in the public interest and is expected to enhance energy security and affordability by improving access to natural gas during peak demand periods, the energy firm said.
Natural gas transported through the Westcoast system is used for residential heating, power generation, industrial activity, and liquefied natural gas exports.
Enbridge said the project is expected to contribute over $3 billion to Canada's economy and create about 2,500 jobs during construction.
"The Sunrise Expansion Program is a shovel-ready, critical natural gas infrastructure project," Greg Ebel, the president and CEO of Enbridge, said, adding it supports Canada's "energy superpower ambitions."
The expansion includes new pipeline segments, added compression capacity, and upgrades to existing facilities along the Westcoast system.
The Westcoast pipeline system, which spans over 2,900 kilometers from northeastern British Columbia to the Canada-US border, currently has a capacity of up to 3.6 billion cubic feet per day and is partly owned by Indigenous partners representing 38 First Nations.
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