Enbridge breaks ground on $4B Sunrise Expansion program

Key Takeaways

• Enbridge has commenced active field construction on the $4 billion Sunrise Expansion Program to boost B.C.’s gas pipeline infrastructure.
• The addition of 140 km of looping pipeline and new electric compressor stations will deliver 300 million cubic feet of additional daily capacity.
• The project relies entirely on 100% Canadian-sourced steel from Saskatchewan and has committed over $52 million to Indigenous corporate procurement.
• Heavy civil construction will run through the next two years, with a hard operational target set for late 2028.

The Whole Story:

Enbridge Inc. has officially started active construction on its $4 billion Sunrise Expansion Program, a major infrastructure project designed to scale up the province’s natural gas capacity and expand trade links to fast-growing Asian markets. Moving from its federal cabinet approval in April 2026 to heavy ground breaking in just three months, the megaproject marks a primary milestone in the federal strategy to enhance national energy sovereignty while supporting upcoming West Coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) export installations.

The physical scope of the build involves constructing 11 pipeline looping segments—totaling approximately 140 kilometres of 42-inch high-grade steel pipe—parallel to the active Westcoast Pipeline transmission corridor. To boost flow efficiency, crews will install additional natural gas compressors and execute major technical retrofits across 11 existing compressor stations. In an effort to minimize carbon output, Enbridge is utilizing electric-driven compressor units at key sites, which will require building 10 kilometres of new overhead electric transmission lines. Once operational in late 2028, the expanded pipeline will inject an additional 300 million cubic feet per day of capacity into the network, providing vital supply lines for municipal utilities, regional manufacturing plants, and low-carbon export operations like Woodfibre LNG—the world’s first net-zero facility.

“From approval to groundbreaking in just three months, the Sunrise Expansion Program shows how Canada is getting major projects built,” said federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson. “This expansion will provide reliable natural gas for homes, hospitals, schools and B.C.’s growing low-carbon energy sector while creating thousands of well-paying careers and new, diverse international trade opportunities. This is how we strengthen Canadian energy security, support affordability and prove once again what being an energy superpower looks like.”

The capital build is highly integrated with the domestic supply chain, utilizing 100 percent Canadian-made, melted, and poured steel supplied by Saskatchewan’s InterPro Pipe + Steel.

Doug Matthews, CEO of InterPro, noted the domestic significance: “By choosing Canadian steel, we are supporting skilled workers, strengthening domestic supply chains and ensuring Canada’s critical energy infrastructure is built with Canadian materials.”

The project is also anchored by strong Indigenous equity partnerships. Last year, the Stonlasec8 Indigenous Alliance Limited Partnership, representing 38 First Nations across B.C., acquired a 12.5 percent ownership stake in the underlying Westcoast Pipeline system, backed by a $400 million federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee. Enbridge has already allocated over $52 million in direct engineering and service procurement contracts to Indigenous-owned companies. Chief Dolleen Logan of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation stressed that the collaboration moves reconciliation from words into action: “For Lheidli T’enneh, meaningful partnerships are about more than economic opportunity — they are about ensuring our Nation has a seat at the table in shaping projects that will benefit our people and region for generations to come.”

Greg Ebel, President and CEO of Enbridge, concluded that the firm is proud to be working side-by-side with local contractors and labor teams. “This project will strengthen energy security, support economic growth, create jobs and help to ensure Canadians have access to reliable, affordable energy for decades to come,” Ebel said. The pipeline expansion is projected to generate $700 million in localized tax revenues and add more than $3 billion to Canada’s national GDP.

The multi-site loop construction scales up delivery volumes across Enbridge’s existing 2,900-km T-South line:

• Linear Loop Footprint: 140 kilometres of new line divided among 11 parallel loop segments.
• Pipe Architecture: 42-inch diameter structural carbon steel.
• Steel Procurement: 100% melted, poured, and fabricated in Canada by InterPro Pipe + Steel.
• Compression Upgrades: Station retrofits across 11 existing nodes, featuring new low-emission electric drives.
• Grid Connection: 10 km of dedicated electrical transmission powerlines to feed electric compressors.