Dozens of Enbridge shippers wade into dispute over proposed pipeline overhaul
CALGARY More than two dozen oil companies wrote to Canada’s energy regulator on Thursday to support or oppose it intervening in Enbridge Inc’s contentious proposal to overhaul shipping contracts on the Mainline pipeline network.
The Mainline is North America’s largest pipeline system, shipping around three million barrels per day of crude from western Canada to the U.S. Midwest. Enbridge currently allocates capacity based on monthly nominations from shippers, but is proposing to switch to long-term fixed-volume contracts.
The company launched a twomonth open season to solicit bids for space on Aug. 2. It faces stiff opposition from many Canadian producers, who say the tolls are unfair and the changes will limit their access to markets.
After complaints from companies, including Suncor Energy and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) said it would hold a fast-track process to gather comment and gave interested parties a deadline of 12 p.m. local time on Thursday.
Most responses came from parties in favour of the regulator intervening before the end of the open season. They included MEG Energy Corp, the Saskatchewan government and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
The CER is requesting comment on whether it should consider the terms and tolls offered by Enbridge before — instead of after — the end of the open season, and whether the open season should be delayed.
CAPP underlined the importance of the Mainline system to producers. “The conversion of the Mainline... is no small thing and it should perhaps be no surprise and certainly no shame to anyone if the attempt to achieve the conversion by confidential negotiations and an open season turned out to be insufficient to the magnitude of the task,” Nick Schultz, CAPP’s vice-president of pipeline regulation, said in a letter.
The terms and tolls on offer have not been publicly disclosed. Enbridge has until Sept. 11 to file comment with the CER and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.