ATCO Pipelines receives approval for UPR project

ATCO Pipelines has announced that it has received approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to proceed with its Urban Pipeline Replacement (UPR) project. The project will replace and relocate the company's high-pressure natural gas pipelines located in densely populated areas of Calgary and Edmonton into the Transportation Utility Corridors (TUCs) that surround both cities.

"The safety of our communities is our priority," said Brian Hahn, President, ATCO Pipelines. "By building new, modern pipelines in the TUCs, we can continue to provide safe, reliable service to customers while meeting the growing demand for natural gas in Alberta's two largest cities."

The TUCs have been designed to protect pipelines from development activities and the new pipelines will benefit from modern pipeline coatings, welding practices and inline inspection capabilities that were not available when the existing network was constructed.

Public input was a critical component of ATCO Pipeline's project submission to the AUC. The company plans to continue to engage communities, customers and government representatives as it proceeds to implement the various components of the UPR Project over the next five years.

In its decision, the AUC noted that the UPR application is in the public interest because it will result in Edmonton and Calgary systems that are safe, economic, orderly and efficient. The AUC also deemed the UPR Project as superior to alternatives considered with regard to risk management, system integrity, reliability of supply, minimal public disruption, technical feasibility and proposed locations.

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/07022014/atco_pipelines_receives_approval_for_upr_project/