TC Energy Corp. has proposed another C$193 million ($144 million) for natural gas pipeline capacity on the massive Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) system as the next step in building its supply collection grid in Alberta and British Columbia.

An application for NGTL’s West Path Delivery 22 expansion is seeking approval from the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) to finish by November 2022 about 23 kilometers (17 miles) of 48-inch diameter pipeline in southern Alberta.

Natural gas shipper contracts for about 100 MMcf/d support the project, according to the construction application.

The additional capacity would flow into another branch of the TC network for exports into the United States, Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd.

The West Path expansion would follow West Path Delivery 2020, a C$409 million ($306 million) package of southern Alberta additions to NGTL that is nearing completion. The Delivery 2020 project includes two compressors as well as additional pipeline.

Final Canadian government approval also is anticipated for northern capacity expansions of the NGTL system by 2021 that would cost an estimated C$2.3 billion ($1.7 billion).

The renovation and capacity addition project, aka the 2021 NGTL System Expansion, would cater to evolving gas production locations and shipper service requests with 344 kilometers (206 miles) of 48-inch diameter pipe, plus three compressors. The project would allow more natural gas supply to be moved from the Montney, Duvernay and Deep Basin formations.

The CER approved the northern capacity plan in February, but the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the target date for final federal cabinet endorsement of the regulatory decision until October.

About three-quarters of Western Canada Sedimentary Basin gas crosses the Nova grid to reach markets in Alberta and Central Canada, as well as export destinations across the United States.