Canadian Energy Regulator approves Westcoast Energy pipeline project near Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — More than a dozen kilometres of fuel pipelines are coming to Fort St. John and the surrounding area as part of B.C’s Westcoast Aspen Point Program.

The Commission of the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER) approved Westcoast Energy Incorporated’s application to construct the pipelines in northern British Columbia on December 19th, 2024.

The city will receive an NPS 36 pipeline segment that, depending on the final design, will be either 6.4 or 7.7 kilometres in length. 

This segment will loop the existing NPS 30 Fort St. John Mainline, located within provincial Crown land about 60 kilometres northwest of Dawson Creek.

Another segment of the project is the Aitken Creek Pipeline Loop, which will be 8.9 kilometres in length and located 110 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John.

The third segment, called the CS-1B Connector, will be located roughly 5 kilometres south of Taylor and 1.4 kilometres in length. It will connect the existing Fort St. John Mainline and Alberta Mainline.

According to the CER, the Westcoast Aspen Point Program will increase the T-North system by installing more pipeline segments, electric drive compression, powerlines, metering facilities, and upgrading the existing compressor stations.

“The Project will include the addition of new electric drive compressor units and related infrastructure at the existing Mackie Creek (CS-N5) and Sunset Creek (CS-16) compressor stations, and a new station (CS-1B) located about 5 kilometres south of Taylor,” according to the CER.

Westcoast Energy Inc. is an Enbridge company that owns and operates the province’s major natural gas transmission system, the Westcoast or BC Pipeline system.

To view a map of the project, look below.