TransCanada receives regulatory approval for Northern Courier

TransCanada Corporation has announced that the Alberta Energy Regulator has approved TransCanada's application to construct and operate the Northern Courier pipeline project.

"We are pleased that the Alberta Energy Regulator has approved Northern Courier, which will be a critical piece of infrastructure to support the long-term plans for growth and increased production from the Alberta oilsands," said Russ Girling, TransCanada's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We currently expect construction on Northern Courier to begin in the third quarter of 2014, with it being ready for service by 2017."

TransCanada was selected by Forth Hills Energy LP to design, build, own and operate the US$ 800 million Northern Courier pipeline project, which is fully contracted under a long-term agreement. The approximately 90 km pipeline system will transport bitumen and diluent products between the Fort Hills mine and bitumen extraction facility and Suncor's East Tank Farm, located north of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Northern Courier will consist of a 24 in. dia. insulated steel pipeline to transport bitumen, and a 12 in. dia. steel pipeline to transport diluent.

Northern Courier is an important component of TransCanada's capital growth plan, which includes US$ 38 billion of commercially secured projects expected to be completed by the end of the decade. Of these, US$ 3.5 billion in projects are planned to expand TransCanada's liquids pipeline network in the province of Alberta, including the proposed Grand Rapids and Heartland pipeline projects, and new storage terminal facilities at Hardisty and in Alberta's Industrial Heartland region northeast of Edmonton. TransCanada is committed to ensuring all of these projects are built and operated safely, responsibly and with minimal environmental impact. These projects are supported by strong market fundamentals and underpinned by long-term contracts or the revenue stability of regulated business models.

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/23072014/transcanada-receives-regulatory-approval-for-northern-courier/