There are several federally regulated energy infrastructures located throughout Alberta. If Indigenous Ministerial Arrangement Regulations (IMARs) are made, it could enable the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources to enter into Indigenous Ministerial Arrangements with Indigenous governing bodies (IGB). Through the arrangements, the IGBs could have the authority to exercise responsibilities over the regulatory oversight of energy infrastructure under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CERA).
Federally regulated energy infrastructure in Alberta
Text version
This map of Alberta focuses on the locations of major pipelines, powerline terminals and current applications and projects all regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). It also shows where First Nation Reserves are located in relation to the energy infrastructure, with many in close proximity to one or more pipelines, notably the NGTL system. Not labelled: NGTL gas pipeline system spans 24,500 km throughout Alberta, accounting for most of the gas lines pictured here. The majority of the province has pipelines flowing through, from the northwestern most point at the borders of BC and Northwest Territories, to the southern borders of BC, Saskatchewan and the United States. Current projects can be found throughout the province, with clusters at the northwestern border with BC and northeast of Edmonton. A few projects are found east of Calgary. There are only three powerline terminals on the map, all along the southern border of the United States. More details about the energy infrastructure can be found in the following tables.
Pipelines
31,787 km
31,787 km
Total length
15
15
Number of current applications
Powerlines
4
4
Number of lines
148 km
148 km
Total length
| Name | Substance | Phase | CER-Regulated Length | Average Throughput (2024)Footnote 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | Natural gas liquids, condensate, light sweet crude, and light sour crude | Operating | 1 km | n/a |
| Cochin | Condensate | Operating | 1,005 km | 102 Mb/d |
| Enbridge Canadian Mainline system | Crude oil, refined petroleum products and natural gas liquids | Operating | 7,550 km | 3,054 Mb/dFootnote 3 |
| Express | Light, medium, heavy and super-heavy crude oil | Operating | 439 km | n/a |
| Keystone Pipeline System | Crude oil | Operating | 1,233km | 622 Mb/d |
| Milk River | A variety of crude oil streams | Operating | 70 km | n/a |
| Enbridge Norman Wells | Crude oil | Operating | 874 km | 4.9 Mb/d |
| Southern Lights | Diluent for blending bitumen and heavy oil | Operating | 1,531 km | 174 Mb/dFootnote 4 |
| Trans Mountain Pipeline | Crude oil and refined petroleum products | Operating | 1,492 km | 890 Mb/d |
| Alliance | Liquids-rich natural gas | Operating | 2,338 km | 1.5 Bcf/d |
| Foothills | Natural gas | Operating | 1,241 km | 2.5Bcf/d |
| NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) system | Natural gas | Operating | 25,409 km | 11.6 Bcf/dFootnote 5 |
| Westcoast or BC Pipeline system | Natural gas | Operating | 3,152 km | 1,5 Bcf/dFootnote 6 |
There are several smaller federally regulated pipelines in the province, at various phases of the lifecycle. To see which pipelines are closest to your traditional territory, visit the CER’s Interactive Pipeline Map.
| Name | Application Type | Infrastructure Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor to Gordondale Pipeline | Pipelines over 40 km (s.183 CER Act) | New pipeline project (88 km) and upgrades to the Taylor tank farm and Pouce Coupé block valve. | CER is assessing the application. Decision expected by December 1, 2025. |
| NGTL – Eastern Alberta System Mainline Loop Modifications | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Construction of two new pipeline crossovers between existing NGTL GP pipelines and the decommissioning of portions of existing NGTL GP pipelines northeast of Brooks, AB. | CER is assessing the application. |
| NGTL – Iosegun Sales Meter Station | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Installation of a new T-27 Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) 4 low volume sales meter. | Approved by the Commission (CER) on February 15, 2024. |
| NGTL – Blueberry Hill South Receipt Meter Station | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Construction and operation of a new 1084U ultrasonic meter station, including an NPS 8 meter run and a NPS 4 return run. | CER is assessing the application. |
| NGTL – Eastern Alberta System Mainline (EAS ML) Modifications | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Construction, operation, and decommissioning components of the EAS ML pipeline system south of Empress, AB. | Approved by the Commission (CER) on May 29, 2024. |
| NGTL – Figure Lake Receipt Meter Station Modifications | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Replacement of various small segments of NGTL pipeline, new lateral tie-in piping and decommissioning segments of pipeline southwest of Lac La Biche, AB. | Approved by the Commission (CER) on June 25, 2024. |
| NGTL – GPML Loop No. 4 (Valhalla North Section) and Berland River CS C3 Unit Addition | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) |
Installation of 33 kilometers of NPS 48 pipe and a new 30 MW Electric compressor west of Saddle Area in AB. Part of the greater Peace River Project Area. |
CER is assessing the application. |
| NGTL – Leming Lake Sales Lateral Loop (Field Lake Section) | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Installation of 17 km NPS 20 pipeline loop of the existing Leming Lake Sales Lateral pipeline within the county of Lac La Biche, AB. | Approved by the Commission (CER) on September 20, 2024. |
| NGTL – NPS 6 Gregory Northeast Lateral Modifications | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Installation of 10-20 m of piping and the isolation and decommissioning of a segment of the NGTL pipeline northeast of Brooks, AB. | Approved by the Commission (CER) on June 21, 2024. |
| NGTL – Parallel Creek Sales Meter Station Project | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Installation of a new meter station northeast of Athabasca, AB. | Approved by the Commission (CER) on June 21, 2024. |
| NGTL – Wilkin Lake Receipt Meter Station Project | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Installation of a new 884U ultrasonic receipt meter, scour protection and associated facility piping northeast of Beaverlodge, AB. | Approved by the Commission (CER) on December 14, 2023. |
| NGTL – Codner South Receipt Meter Station Project | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Installation of a skid-mounted meter run building and a separator; an NPS 10 ultrasonic meter run; an NPS 4 orifice return run; an instrument building; NPS 10 yard piping; and a new access road southeast of Rocky Mountain House, AB. | Approved by the Commission (CER) on November 19, 2024. |
| NGTL – Saturn No.3 Receipt Meter Station | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Installation of a new NPS 10 ultrasonic meter station, including an NPS 10 meter run, NPS 4 return run, and associated buildings and piping. | Project notification submitted by proponent. |
| NPS 10 Northern Pouce Coupé HDD Pipe Replacement Project | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Replacing approximately 1.9 km of 10-inch diameter pipe on the Pouce Coupé Northern System west of Bonanza, AB. | Approved by the Commission (CER) on January 10, 2025. |
| Southern Lights Line 13 Expansion | Pipeline under 40 km (s. 240 CER Act) | Conducting minor terminal and station modifications at Edmonton Terminal, St. Leon Pump Station, Kerrobert Terminal, Regina Terminal, and Odessa Station with the purpose of increasing Line 13’s annual average capacity. | CER is assessing the application. Decision expected by January 29, 2025. |
Related links
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please visit the following webpages:
- CER – Applications and projects
- CER – Interactive Pipeline Map
- CER – Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles – Alberta
- CER – International Power Lines Dashboard
Contact us
For additional information on the proposed IMARs or to submit comments in writing, please send an email to Indigenous Ministerial Arrangements Regulations at: imar-rama@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.