What Happened

Enbridge has officially broken ground on the Sunrise Expansion Program, a $4 billion project designed to expand its Westcoast Natural Gas pipeline system in British Columbia. Construction began on July 20, 2026, marking the start of work on approximately 140 kilometres of new pipeline infrastructure. The expansion runs from near Chetwynd, B.C., to the Canada-U.S. border in the Fraser Valley, adding significant transportation capacity to the existing 2,900-kilometre network. The project aims to provide up to 300 million cubic feet per day of additional natural gas capacity for local needs and liquefied natural gas export facilities on the West Coast. Federal approval for the Sunrise Expansion Program was granted in April 2026, paving the way for this construction phase to commence.

Why It Matters

The Sunrise Expansion Program is critical for maintaining the reliability of natural gas supplies in British Columbia, Alberta, and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. By adding 140 kilometres of new pipeline, the project addresses growing demand for natural gas, particularly to support liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals on the West Coast. Enbridge holds a 30 per cent stake in the Woodfibre LNG export terminal currently under construction in Squamish, B.C., linking this pipeline expansion directly to broader energy export strategies. The federal government emphasizes that the expansion will ensure adequate gas supplies for both export facilities and local consumers, balancing economic development with energy security.