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The Trans Mountain expansion project could be delayed by several months, Kinder Morgan announced on Wednesday.
As part of its third quarter report, the Texas-based company said 鈥渃onstruction preparation activity is off to a slower start than planned.鈥�
Part of that is due 鈥渢o the time required to file for, process and obtain all necessary permits and regulatory approvals.鈥�
Kinder Morgan said it鈥檚 looking at construction mitigation plans so it can maintain the current in-service date of December 2019.
鈥淎ll project planning and schedule mitigation efforts include cost management measures and spend control to maximize project returns, including a reduction in 2017 spending that has already been implemented,鈥� reads the report.
Should mitigation efforts fail, the project could be delayed by up to nine months, according to the company.
Construction of the $7.4-billion pipeline project was scheduled to start last month. The project, however, has faced fierce opposition from the B.C. NDP, First Nations groups and environmental organizations. It鈥檚 also entangled in legal battles with municipalities like Burnaby and Vancouver.
The federal government approved the controversial expansion last November, following the National Energy Board鈥檚 recommendation in May 2016 that the project go ahead. The NEB attached 157 conditions to its approval.
