Trans Mountain Pipeline Hits Near-Full Capacity, Expansion Projects on the Way
According to Reuters, Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline is running at near-maximum capacity heading into April, with CEO Mark Maki telling attendees at CERAWeek by S&P Global in Houston that utilization has reached the “high-90s” percent. The C$34 billion system, which moves 890,000 bpd from Alberta to British Columbia’s west coast, was only 84% full as recently as last summer. Maki attributed the surge to Middle East supply disruptions driving Asian demand for Canadian crude.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Trans Mountain is actively planning optimization projects, including drag-reducing agent injection systems and new pumping stations, targeting 300,000 bpd of added capacity by end of 2028. That’s real construction and mechanical work coming to market in Western Canada.
- Rising oil sands output, expected to exceed last year’s record of 5.3 million bpd in 2026, signals sustained upstream activity and equipment demand across Alberta.
- Alberta is also exploring a new one-million-bpd pipeline to BC’s northwest coast. No private-sector commitment yet, but field service companies should watch this closely for future bidding opportunities.
