CALGARY, ALBERTA and HOUSTON, TEXAS — (Marketwire) — 10/03/11 — Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB) and Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: EEP) (“EEP”, or the “Partnership”) announced today two projects that will provide increased access to refineries in the U.S. upper midwest and in Ontario, Canada for light crude oil produced in western Canada and the U.S. The project involves the expansion of EEP–s Line 5 light crude line between Superior, Wisconsin and Sarnia, Ontario by 50,000 barrels per day, at a cost of approximately $100 million. Complementing the Line 5 expansion, Enbridge plans on reversing a portion of Line 9 in western Ontario to permit crude oil movements eastbound from Sarnia as far as Westover, Ontario, at a cost of approximately $20 million. Subject to regulatory approvals, both projects are targeting to be in service in late 2012.
The expansion of Line 5 and reversal of Line 9 between Sarnia and Westover can be economically achieved with upgrades or modifications of facilities and does not require installation of new pipeline.
The project will enable growing light crude production from the Bakken shale and from Alberta to meet refinery needs in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario. The project provides another much needed transportation outlet for light crude, mitigating the current discounting of supplies in this basin while also providing more favourable supply costs to refiners currently dependent on crudes priced off of the Atlantic basin.
“We are pleased to be able to provide this high value solution to our shippers,” said Stephen J. Wuori, President, Liquids Pipelines, Enbridge Inc. “With a Brent-to-WTI differential running in excess of $20 per barrel, compared with the historical parity relationship, there is significant value to be captured by increasing the pipeline capacity to move western Canadian and Bakken light crude supply to eastern refiners. This project will utilize the international joint toll (IJT) feature provided for in the new Enbridge Competitive Toll Settlement, which will enable us to provide an attractive toll from western Canada all the way through to refiners in the U.S. upper Midwest and Ontario.
“This is an attractive project for EEP,” added Mark Maki, President of the Partnership. “The project can be undertaken generally within our existing rights of way and will utilize a standard FERC cost of service model that will provide additional distributable cash flow to the Partnership once the project is placed into service.”
About Enbridge Inc.
Enbridge Inc., a Canadian company, is a North American leader in delivering energy and one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. As a transporter of energy, Enbridge operates, in Canada and the U.S., the world–s longest crude oil and liquids transportation system. The Company also has a growing involvement in the natural gas transmission and midstream businesses, and is expanding its interests in renewable and green energy technologies including wind and solar energy, hybrid fuel cells and carbon dioxide sequestration. As a distributor of energy, Enbridge owns and operates Canada–s largest natural gas distribution company, and provides distribution services in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and New York State. Enbridge employs approximately 6,400 people, primarily in Canada and the U.S. and is ranked as one of Canada–s Greenest Employers, and one of the Top 100 Companies to Work for in Canada. Enbridge–s common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. For more information, visit enbridge.com
About Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. owns and operates a diversified portfolio of crude oil and natural gas transportation systems in the United States. Its principal crude oil system is the largest transporter of growing oil production from western Canada. The system–s deliveries to refining centers and connected carriers in the United States account for approximately 13 percent of total U.S. oil imports; while deliveries to Ontario, Canada satisfy approximately 70 percent of refinery demand in that region. The Partnership–s natural gas gathering, treating, processing and transmission assets, which are principally located onshore in the active U.S. Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast area, deliver approximately 2.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily.
Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (NYSE: EEQ) manages the business and affairs of the Partnership and its sole asset is an approximate 14 percent interest in the Partnership. Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, (NYSE: ENB) (TSX: ENB) is the general partner and holds an approximate 24 percent interest in the Partnership.
Certain information provided in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate”, “expect”, “project”, “estimate”, “forecast” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Enbridge and its affiliate EEP believe that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties pertaining to operating performance, regulatory parameters, weather, economic conditions and commodity prices. You can find a discussion of those risks and uncertainties in the Canadian securities filings for ENB, and American SEC filings for ENB and EEP. While Enbridge and EEP make these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Enbridge and EEP assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Enbridge Inc.
Jennifer Varey
Media
(403) 508-6563 or Toll Free: (888) 992-0997
Enbridge Inc.
Jody Balko
Investment Community
(403) 231-5720
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.
Lorraine Little
Media
(713) 353-6317
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.
Douglas Montgomery
Investment Community
Toll-free: (866) EEP INFO or (866) 337-4636