Trans Mountain is moving forward with the first of three expansions of the oil pipeline.

Trans Mountain is moving forward with its first project to pump more oil through its pipeline system between Alberta and British Columbia.

The Crown corporation applied to the Canada Energy Regulator this week to use drag reducing agents (DRA) with the goal of recovering 10 per cent more oil.

According to documents submitted to the regulator, the project will cost $9 million and construction is expected to begin this August. This project can be operational by January 2027.

The original Trans Mountain Pipeline system was built in the 1950s, while a $34 billion expansion project is slated to begin transporting oil from Edmonton to the Vancouver area in May 2024.

The Crown corporation had planned to begin considering potential additions to the pipeline later this decade, but at this time This was accelerated as oil production in Alberta continues to grow and existing export pipelines are expected to reach capacity in the coming years.

“The DRA project will not result in an increase in vessel traffic at the Westridge Marine Terminal beyond that assessed during the reconsideration process for the Trans Mountain expansion project,” Trans Mountain said in the documents.

Trans Mountain is considering some other projects to transport more oil through its pipeline, such as building more pumping stations, which could move an additional 360,000 barrels per day within the next five years. The twin pipelines can currently transport about 890,000 barrels per day between Alberta and the west coast of British Columbia.

Drag reducing agents are chemicals that reduce friction within the pipeline and would have a relatively low cost compared to other proposed improvements to the pipeline system.

There may be some proposed expansions for major pipelines, including Trans Mountain enough Increase the amount of oil that can be exported from Western Canada.