OEB approves Enbridge’s GTA pipeline project

Enbridge Gas Distribution has announced that it has received approval from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to upgrade the backbone of its natural gas distribution system in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The GTA project will provide upgrades to the natural gas distribution system that supplies natural gas to Brampton, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham and Toronto.

Upgrade will benefit customers

“We are pleased with the OEB’s decision as we believe this project will provide significant benefit to Enbridge Gas Distribution customers,” said Glenn Beaumont, President of Enbridge Gas Distribution. “The project is designed to serve growth in the GTA, allow for continued system reliability and provide access to lower cost natural gas supply.”

Enbridge Gas Distribution’s GTA system has not had a major upgrade for 20 years. In that time, the total number of Enbridge customers has doubled from 1.1 million in 1992 to two million customers today. The GTA Project has the potential to provide access to lower cost natural gas supply for the rest of Ontario and Quebec in conjunction with a coordinated infrastructure build by Union Gas and TransCanada Pipelines.

Enbridge Gas Distribution held nine public open houses throughout 2012 as part of its consultation process and will keep local communities updated throughout the construction phases of the project. “As we move forward, we will continue to coordinate plans with local municipalities and will keep residents in the area regularly updated about our plans,” said Beaumont. “We will work to minimise construction impacts and keep residents informed about any temporary construction activities in their community.”

Pipeline installation

The new pipeline will be comprised of two separate segments (A and B) and will be located mainly in existing utility corridors to minimise disruption to the community. The pipe will also be connected to an existing underground distribution system that delivers natural gas to homes and businesses in the GTA.

Segment A will be a 42 in. diameter pipeline that will be located within a designated utility corridor, immediately south of Highway 407. Segment A will travel approximately 27 km from Parkway West at Derry Road and Highway 407 to the existing Albion Station. Segment B will be a 36 in. diameter pipeline and will begin in an existing utility corridor in the City of Vaughan at Keele Street, south of Highway 407. The pipe will travel approximately 23 km past Highway 404 to between Victoria Park and Warden Avenue and then turn south and travel within a utility corridor to Sheppard Avenue East in the City of Toronto.

Two new pressure regulation facilities will connect the pipelines to the existing system. There will also be an upgrade made to an existing pressure regulation facility at Jonesville Station, located just north of Eglinton Avenue East. Construction is expected to begin in late 2014 and finish in October 2015.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/03022014/oeb_approves_enbridges_gta_pipeline_project_66/