Completion expected by mid-2022 WCS price discounts widens to allow more rail Calgary — Canadian government-owned Trans Mountain this week started the construction of its 590,000 b/d pipeline expansion, which is expected to eventually offer relief to Canadian producers faced with steep price discounts for their crude. Trans Mountain plans to have the first stretch of pipe in the ground before the end of the year, the company said Tuesday. Expansion of the 300,000 b/d conduit to 890,000 b/d is not expected to be completed until mid-2022. Once completed, the Edmonton-to-Burnaby, British Columbia line will allow Canadian producers to boost exports to Asia, and, they hope, tighten crude price discounts. Western Canadian Select at Hardisty, Alberta, was trading Wednesday at the WTI Calendar Month Average (CMA) minus $20.80/b. That was up from a $22.40/b assessment Tuesday, which was the steepest discount since November 7. A special production allowance […]