Natural gas expansion work proposed for the Fraser Valley

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CHILLIWACK — Westcoast Energy, an Enbridge company that oversees and operates the primary natural gas transmission system in British Columbia, is proposing to expand sections of the southern part of this pipeline through the Fraser Valley.

According to a statement from Rawnna Low, spokesperson for Enbridge, Westcoast Energy says this natural gas transmission system transports natural gas that ultimately heats homes, hospitals, businesses and schools throughout B.C. This same natural gas is also used in electrical power generation and in manufacturing thousands of products.

“To meet the demand for natural gas, we’re proposing to expand sections of the southern part of this pipeline. This proposed work is called the Sunrise Expansion Program (project),” Low said.

In the Fraser Valley Regional District, this work involves adding pipeline loops, which are sections of the pipe added to the existing pipeline system to enhance capacity. An additional compressor unit and upgrades to existing compressor stations are also being proposed, to help propoel additional natural gas through the pipeline system.

A total of 16.7 kilometres (km) of 42-inch diameter pipeline loops are proposed for two different locations in the Fraser Valley Regional District:

• About 12.9 km from northeast of Seabird Island to south of Agassiz

• About 3.8 km from southeast of Abbotsford to Huntingdon meter station, located at the Huntingdon-Sumas border

An additional electric-powered compressor unit is proposed to be installed in an existing compressor station located east of Hope. To provide power to this unit, Low says about 6 km overhead powerline will be installed from south of Hope to CS-8B. By using electricity to power this compressor unit, we will be able to prevent greenhouse gas emissions of about 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year. That’s equivalent to removing over 20,000 cars off the road each year.

To advance this work, Enbridge submitted an application for the project to the Canada Energy Regulator on May 30. This project will now undergo a regulatory review process, which includes a public hearing. If approved, construction is expected to start as early as the second quarter in 2026. Westcoast Energy anticipates that the project will be fully operational by the end of 2028.