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HOUSTON — U.S. natural gas pipeline capacity is set for its biggest one year expansion since the early shale boom as companies respond to surging demand from LNG exporters, data centres and manufacturing. Analysts say about $50 billion in new projects will add roughly 8,800 miles of pipeline across Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
Twelve new or expanded lines are expected to be completed next year, boosting Gulf Coast transport capacity by about 13 per cent. Developers say the buildout is being driven less by producers and more by LNG operators and utilities, which are securing long term supply as electricity use climbs.
Canada based TC Energy said this month it expects North American natural gas demand to rise by 45 billion cubic feet per day by 2035. The company cited a tripling of LNG exports and rapid growth in electricity use from data centres as key factors.
The expansion comes amid widespread speculation that Alberta and the federal government will unveil a joint pipeline announcement on Thursday, a move industry observers say could signal Ottawa’s openness to new export infrastructure.
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