Natural gas pipeline in central Alberta completed months ahead of schedule

Oct 18, 2019 | 2:07 PM

DRAYTON VALLEY, AB – Premier Jason Kenney is on hand in Drayton Valley for the opening of the new Tidewater TransAlta Natural Gas Pipeline.

It will increase the capacity of natural gas shipments from 50-million cubic feet per day to 130-million cubic feet per day in just the first month. Eventually, it will transport as much as 440-million cubic feet of natural gas every day.

“This billion-dollar commitment on the part of Dawn Farrell and TransAlta to Alberta is an expression of confidence in our economic future,” says Kenney.

“It validates Alberta’s real, practical, solution-oriented commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions at home and abroad by increasing production, consumption, and export of cleaner-burning Alberta natural gas.”

1,100 people worked on the project, laying 120 km of pipeline from the Keephills and Sundance plants near Drayton Valley.

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Kenney called converting the area’s power supply from coal to natural gas a “major long-term win for the environment.”

“It not only promises to cut greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 50%, but also to dramatically reduce [nitrogen oxide], [sulfur oxides], and particulate emissions down the road, which means improving air quality here in Alberta.”

The Premier adds that it only took 21 months to go from concept to completion, meaning it was completed several months ahead of schedule.

Kenney says the province is looking at “efficiencies” in the regulatory process that would ensure more energy projects can get approved.

by David Opinko