TransCanada to Operate Keystone Pipeline by June

TransCanada hopes to be operating its $5.2bn Keystone pipeline by the end of June 2010, according to the firm’s chief operating officer, Russ Girling.

Girling told Reuters that TransCanada continued to fill the line with oil in preparation for the start of operations.

“We should be filled by the middle of June or towards the end of June and ready for full start-up,” he said.

This part of the operation is Keystone’s first stage. It will run from Alberta to the refining hubs of Wood River and Patoka, Illinois, carrying 435,000bpd, according to Reuters.

Keystone will later be extended to Cushing, Oklahoma, and expanded to carry 540,000bpd by 2011.

The CEO expects the pipeline to be fully operational by 2011.