Enbridge To Resume Operation of East Segment of Line 5 In the Straits of Mackinac

Rhea-AI Summary

Enbridge (ENB) has received authorization from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to restart the east segment of Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. This decision, praised by Enbridge's President of Liquids Pipelines, Vern Yu, is expected to benefit residents and businesses in Michigan and the Great Lakes region who depend on energy from Line 5. Following safety inspections, PHMSA found no integrity issues, allowing the east segment to resume operations. Line 5 has operated safely for over 65 years, and Enbridge emphasizes its commitment to environmental protection.

Positive

• Restart authorization for east segment of Line 5 positively impacts Michigan's energy supply.
• PHMSA did not identify any integrity issues post-inspection, allowing safe operations.
• Line 5 has operated incident-free for over 65 years, showcasing reliability.

Negative

• None.

CALGARY, AB and LANSING, Mich., Sept. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Enbridge (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB) will restart the east segment of Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac after receiving authorization from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and approval from the Michigan Circuit Court.

Vern Yu, Executive Vice President and President of Liquids Pipelines said, "The decision to allow the restart of the east segment of Line 5 is very positive for the many residents and businesses in Michigan and the Great Lakes region who depend on the energy Line 5 delivers. Enbridge will continue to focus on the safe operation of the dual Line 5 pipelines at the Straits of Mackinac, ensuring the Great Lakes are protected while also reliably delivering the energy and feedstock that helps to fuel Michigan's and the region's economy." 

Enbridge has throughout this period kept the State of Michigan fully advised of the status of the west and east segment investigations and will continue to do so.

Following a review of the data from an in-line inspection of the east segment in the area around the damaged screw anchor, PHMSA indicated in a letter to Enbridge dated September 4, 2020, that, "The review by PHMSA and its independent third-party expert did not identify any integrity issues. As no integrity issues have been identified in the area around the displaced anchor, PHMSA has no objection to Enbridge restarting the east leg of Line 5." 

The west segment returned to operation in July.

Line 5 has served Michiganders safely without incident at the Straits crossing for more than 65 years. Our focus remains on protecting the Great Lakes, the environment and all the people who use these waters while delivering energy that people rely on daily and that fuels our economy.

As safety and protecting the environment are as important to us as they are to all Michiganders, we continue to work toward and look forward to the day when a replacement for the Line 5 dual pipelines is encased safely in a tunnel below the waters of the Straits of Mackinac.

Forward Looking Information

Although Enbridge believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable based on the information available on the date such statements are made and processes used to prepare the information, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. By their nature, these statements involve a variety of assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Assumptions regarding the expected supply of and demand for crude oil, natural gas, NGL and renewable energy, and the prices of these commodities, are material to and underlie all forward-looking statements, as they may impact current and future levels of demand for the Company's services. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic, exchange rates, inflation and interest rates impact the economies and business environments in which the Company operates and may impact levels of demand for the Company's services and cost of inputs, and are therefore inherent in all forward-looking statements. Due to the interdependencies and correlation of these macroeconomic factors, the impact of any one assumption on a forward-looking statement cannot be determined with certainty. The most relevant assumptions associated with forward-looking statements in this news release with regards to the Line 5 dual pipelines include the impact of government and regulatory actions, approvals and litigation on ongoing and future operations.

Enbridge's forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to those risks and uncertainties discussed in this news release and in the Company's other filings with Canadian and United States securities regulators. The impact of any one risk, uncertainty or factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as these are interdependent and Enbridge's future course of action depends on management's assessment of all information available at the relevant time. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Enbridge assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made in this news release or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Enbridge or persons acting on the Company's behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

About Enbridge Inc.

Enbridge Inc. is a leading North American energy infrastructure company. We safely and reliably deliver the energy people need and want to fuel quality of life. Our core businesses include Liquids Pipelines, which transports approximately 25 percent of the crude oil produced in North America; Gas Transmission and Midstream, which transports approximately 20 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.; Gas Distribution and Storage, which serves approximately 3.8 million retail customers in Ontario and Quebec; and Renewable Power Generation, which generates approximately 1,750 MW of net renewable power in North America and Europe. The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. For more information, visit www.enbridge.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Media
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Email: media@enbridge.com

Investment Community
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Email: investor.relations@enbridge.com

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SOURCE Enbridge Inc.

FAQ

What was the date of the restart announcement for Line 5 by Enbridge?

Enbridge announced the restart of the east segment of Line 5 on September 9, 2020.

What agency authorized the restart of the east segment of Line 5?

The restart was authorized by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

What is the significance of the Line 5 east segment restart for Michigan?

The restart is important for residents and businesses in Michigan who depend on the energy supplied by Line 5.

How long has Line 5 been operational without incidents?

Line 5 has safely operated for more than 65 years without incidents.

What does Enbridge say about its commitment to the environment?

Enbridge emphasizes its commitment to protecting the Great Lakes and the environment during operations.