Save for later Print Download Share LinkedIn Twitter The Canadian government has ordered Trans Mountain Corp. to halt work on a section of its oil pipeline expansion project in Burnaby, British Columbia, for four months to protect hummingbird nests, a government spokeswoman said on Monday. The C$12.6 billion ($10.17 billion) Trans Mountain Expansion project will nearly triple capacity of the pipeline, which runs from Edmonton, Alberta, to the coast of British Columbia, to ship 890,000 b/d of crude and refined products when it is completed in late 2022 (OD Jun.19'19). Trans Mountain said the order applies to a 1 km stretch along its pipeline right-of-way and work continues on all other areas of the 1,150 km (715 mile) route. There has been no change to the expected in-service date. An Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) enforcement officer visited the site in a Burnaby forest twice earlier this month after complaints about construction activity affecting nests including those of a species known as Anna's hummingbird, which are migratory birds protected under Canadian law. Migratory birds are particularly vulnerable during nesting season. ECCC issued a written order on Apr. 16 to halt any activity including tree trimming or felling with heavy machinery on the work site. The order lasts until Aug. 20, when the nesting season ends. Environmental campaigners and some indigenous groups oppose the project, which has been beset by years of regulatory delay and cost overruns (OD Feb.10'20). In 2018, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government bought the pipeline from Kinder Morgan Canada to ensure the expansion proceeded, making Trans Mountain a government corporation. (Reuters)
