Canadian energy infrastructure company TransCanada has started operating its $1.2bn Topolobampo natural gas pipeline project in northern Mexico.
With a capacity of 670 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, the pipeline will provide to markets in the states of Chihuahua and Sinaloa.
The project provides the upstream interconnection with TransCanada’s Mazatlan pipeline.
As part of the pipeline project, the company built 560km of 30in diameter pipeline from El Encino, near Chihuahua, to Topolobampo, near the city of Los Mochis, Sinaloa.
According to the company, the Topolobampo and Mazatlan pipelines will offer a total capacity of more than 870km of critical energy infrastructure that will provide natural gas to power plants, as well as industrial and urban markets in north-western Mexico.
TransCanada Mexico president Robert Jones said: “The completion of the Topolobampo and Mazatlan pipeline system is an important milestone for TransCanada as we continue to expand our portfolio to deliver natural gas to serve Mexico’s electric generation needs.
“We are developing the infrastructure to feed new power plants and convert existing fuel oil and diesel power plants, thereby reducing both the cost of electricity and greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are proud of the way we overcame technical challenges and completed this difficult project safely.”
During the construction phase of the project, the company employed around 3,500 employees and contractors.
In Mexico, TransCanada has natural gas pipelines spanning 3,190km, which are either in operation or under construction.
The aggregate capacity of the pipelines stands at 7.1 billion cubic feet a day, with an investment of $5.6bn.
