CALGARY, ALBERTA and HOUSTON, TEXAS — (Marketwire) — 05/16/12 — Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB) and Enbridge Energy Partners L.P. (EEP) (NYSE: EEP) today announced approximately $0.4 billion of projects to expand capacity of the Lakehead System mainline between its origin near Neche, North Dakota, to its growing terminal hub in Flanagan, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. The current scope of the projects includes expansion of the Alberta Clipper pipeline (Line 67) between the border and Superior, Wisconsin from 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 570,000 bpd; and expansion of the Southern Access pipeline (Line 61) between Superior and Flanagan, Illinois from 400,000 bpd to 560,000 bpd. Both projects require only the addition of pumping horsepower, with no line pipe construction. Alberta Clipper and Southern Access are both held in Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership (EELP) which will be fully funded by EEP for the cost of the expansions. The scope of the expansions remains under discussion with and subject to approval by shippers, which could lead to an upward revision to capacity and cost.
Subject to finalization of scope and shipper approval, the expansions will be undertaken by EELP on a full cost-of-service basis, and are expected to be available for service in mid 2014. The expansions are designed to accommodate increased throughput on the Lakehead System for deliveries to Enbridge–s Gulf Coast Access and Eastern Access mainline extension projects, as well as growth in Chicago area refinery requirements.
“The border to Flanagan mainline expansion projects provide another attractive investment opportunity for EEP and complement Enbridge–s market access strategic initiatives,” said Stephen J. Wuori, President, Liquids Pipelines for Enbridge. “Both Alberta Clipper and Southern Access have substantial low cost expansion potential. The current projects will just tap the first layer of that potential, leaving plenty of scope for further expansions in the future.”
A map of Enbridge Inc. and Enbridge Energy Partners– expansion projects announced today is available at
About Enbridge Inc.
Enbridge Inc. 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 significant and growing involvement in natural gas gathering, transmission and midstream businesses, and an increasing involvement in power transmission. 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. As a generator of energy, Enbridge has interests in close to 1,000 megawatts of renewable and alternative energy generating capacity and is expanding its interests in wind and solar energy, geothermal and hybrid fuel cells. Enbridge employs more than 7,000 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 .
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. EEP–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 EEP and its sole asset is an approximate 14 percent interest in EEP. 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 23 percent interest in EEP.
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.
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Media
(403) 508-6563 or Toll Free: (888) 992-0997
Enbridge Inc.
Jody Balko
Investment Community
(403) 231-5720
Enbridge Inc.
Lorraine Little
Media
(715) 398-4677
Enbridge Inc.
Sanjay Lad
Investment Community
Toll-free: (866) EEP INFO or (866) 337-4636
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