Trump Approves Enbridge Pipeline Permit at ND-Canada Border

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a presidential permit for a new Bakken pipeline project at the North Dakota-Canada border, according to a report from The Deep Dive. The permit, issued to Bakken Pipeline Company LP, authorizes the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of facilities in Burke County, North Dakota.

Bakken Pipeline Company is a limited partnership and subsidiary of Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge. The same report states Enbridge also received permits for the operation and maintenance of existing pipelines in Pembina County, North Dakota, and St. Clair County, Michigan. The approval marks a concrete step to enhance crude oil transportation between the U.S. and Canada.

The development aligns with Enbridge's broader expansion strategy. The Deep Dive reported that last year, the company committed US$1.4 billion to its Mainline Optimization project, aiming to add 150,000 barrels per day of capacity on its cross-Canada system feeding into the U.S. Midwest. A further 100,000 barrels per day is planned for the Flanagan South system to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Enbridge has also outlined a potential second phase for the Mainline Optimization, which could add another 250,000 barrels per day by 2028 using the existing Dakota Access Pipeline from North Dakota to southern Illinois. This phased approach prioritizes expanding current capacity over building new pipelines.

The Alberta government formed a working group with Enbridge in January to explore further pipeline capacity increases to the U.S. market, signaling mutual interest in bolstering energy trade. Enbridge's network is a critical artery for Canadian oilsands crude, with Gulf Coast refineries as a key destination.

Meanwhile, a separate legal battle involving the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is unfolding overseas. According to KFYR, a trial between Greenpeace International and Energy Transfer, the owner of DAPL, began on Thursday in a Dutch court. Greenpeace is based in the Netherlands.

Greenpeace is attempting to void a $345 million judgment against it from a 2025 North Dakota jury. Greenpeace claims the North Dakota trial was meant to silence critics of the Dakota Access Pipeline and is arguing the case under European Union and Dutch anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) legislation.

Energy Transfer has stated in court filings that the North Dakota trial was about defamation and illegal activities causing financial damage, not silencing critics. The case will ask if a European court can protect a company from overseas litigation in the United States. A ruling is expected in early June, KFYR reported.

The new border crossing permit for Enbridge and the ongoing international litigation highlight the complex regulatory and legal landscape facing Bakken region infrastructure. The permit could facilitate increased takeaway capacity for North Dakota production, while the court case underscores the continued global scrutiny of major pipeline projects connected to the state.