Enbridge Line 3 Replacement: Banister named contractor for local spread

May 23, 2018, 2:15 am
World Spectator

Enbridge started work on Spreads 1, 3, and 4 of the Line 3 replacement project last year. It has now announced that OJ Pipelines has been given the contract for Spread 2 in western Saskatchewan, and Banister has been given the contract for Spreads 5 and 6 in eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba as far as Cromer.

Banister has been named the contractor for Spreads 5 and 6 of the Enbridge Line 3 replacement project, which covers eastern Saskatchewan, while OJ Pipelines will be working on Spread 2.

Enbridge held a competitive bid process to determine the contractors.

Spread 5 runs from Regina to east of Glenavon. Spread 6 runs from west of Langbank to Cromer.

The $9 billion Line 3 Replacement project is intended to enhance the safety and reliability of the Enbridge liquids Mainline System and provide incremental export capacity to Western Canadian producers and increased security of supply for key refining markets along the Mainline system as well as to markets further downstream.

In Canada, the first phase of pipeline construction is now complete, with approximately 40 per cent of the pipe now laid. In the U.S., the pipeline replacement work in Wisconsin is complete and that segment of the line is expected to be commissioned in May.

The final route through Minnesota still has to be finalized. On April 23 an Administrative Law Judge issued Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendation to the MPUC in connection with the company’s applications for a Certificate and Route Permit. The recommendation was that the MPUC approve Enbridge’s permit, but only on a route that would require in-trench replacement of the existing Line 3, which is not the company’s preferred route. The recommendation is not binding on the MPUC.

Enbridge is still hoping to secure approval of its preferred route by the MPUC and continues to anticipate an in-service date for the project in the second half of 2019.