
ARC ENERGY IDEAS Shipping Canadian Oil to Tidewater: What’s Next for Trans Mountain
Jun 24, 2025
Mark Maki, CEO of Trans Mountain Corporation, shares insights on the Trans Mountain pipeline's expansion completed last year, which tripled its capacity. He discusses the anticipated $1.25 billion payment to the Canadian government in 2025, the logistics of shipping oil by tanker, and how the pipeline impacts Canadian oil prices. Maki also explores the regulatory challenges and the potential sale of the pipeline, while addressing the complexities of further expansions and their significance for Canada’s energy future.
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Diverse Tanker Destinations
- Over half of Trans Mountain tankers head to Asian markets, mainly China, Japan, Korea, and Singapore.
- Tankers also supply U.S. West Coast refineries in California, Washington, and even Alaska, diversifying Canadian oil markets.
Price Benefits Across Canada
- Trans Mountain expansion tightened Canadian crude supply, improving Western Canadian oil prices globally.
- Higher prices add roughly $6 billion annually to Canada's oil and gas industry revenue.
Trans Mountain Utilization Explained
- Trans Mountain pipeline operated at about 85-89% capacity in early 2025, leaving some spot capacity unused.
- The unused fraction mostly pertains to interruptible (spot) capacity, not the contracted volume.
