The expanded Trans Mountain pipeline system, which began commercial operations in May 2024, is delivering on its promises of increased oil production and access to global markets, the company's CEO Mark Maki said in an op-ed published in the Financial Post.

“Building a system which increased capacity from approximately 300,000 to 890,000 barrels per day (bpd) is proving to be one of the most strategic investments Canada has ever made,” said Maki, adding that the pipeline has diversified Canada's oil exports, with about half of shipments now destined for countries on the Pacific Rim.

The expanded TMX pipeline has is instrumental in helping Canada diversify its crude markets, its largest decade’s long trading partner, the United States threatens to impose higher tariffs on energy imports from Canada. 

This increased market access has narrowed the price differential between Canadian crude oil and global benchmarks, resulting in an estimated $10 billion increase in oil revenues since May 2024.

"This increased access to international markets is what drives the third goal, allowing Canada to get a better price for our product," Maki wrote. The pipeline expansion has also contributed to increased oil production in Canada, with output reaching 5.4 million barrels per day in December 2024, according to industry analysts.

Looking ahead, Maki emphasized the need for more efficient regulatory processes to facilitate future growth opportunities for the pipeline system.

The federal government purchased the Trans Mountain pipeline in 2018, a move that Maki described as "a critical time to do what was good for the country."