Pipe signing ceremony in Prince George signals start of work to expand the Westcoast natural gas pipeline system
Rows of 42-inch-diameter, 80-foot-long steel pipe stretch across a storage yard in Prince George, B.C. Manufactured in Canada and ready for installation, these pipes signal that the Sunrise Expansion Program has moved from planning into construction.
Against this backdrop, Enbridge and others from across B.C. and Canada gathered on July 20, 2026, to mark the official start of work on this essential energy infrastructure project.
The construction kick-off event brought together Enbridge President and CEO Greg Ebel; Enbridge Executive Vice President and Gas Transmission President Matthew Akman; Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson; B.C. Minister of Jobs and Economic Development Ravi Kahlon; and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation Chief Dolleen Logan.
At the ceremony, the spotlight was on a section of pipe bearing signatures of the steel works who manufactured it in Canada, at the Interpro Pipe and Steel Facility in Regina, SK.
Enbridge, along with other government and community leaders, added their signatures to this pipe before it’s installed as part of the system, marking the start of construction.
"This is an example of the way we do things the right way," says Ebel. "Not only is this $4 billion project part of the $8 billion that Enbridge is building in this province. But there's some $3 billion of GDP benefit to the country, helping to move our economy forward."
The project will add 300 million cubic feet per day of transportation capacity to the Westcoast pipeline system by adding additional compression and about 140 kilometres of new pipeline.
"Infrastructure like the Sunrise Expansion Program helps our country realize its goal of becoming a global energy superpower. It also ensures that British Columbians continue to have access to reliable and affordable natural gas to heat their homes and fuel their businesses."
Greg Ebel
Enbridge President and Chief Executive Officer
The project is projected to contribute more than $3 billion to Canada’s economy and more than $2.5 billion to B.C.’s economy in the coming decades. Over 2,500 workers are expected to be employed, including workers from local and Indigenous communities.
“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,” says Hodgson. “This is how we strengthen Canadian energy security, support affordability, and prove once again what being an energy superpower looks like.”
With construction now underway, the project remains on schedule for its targeted in-service date in late 2028.
