Enbridge gets Approval to Ship Oil to Quebec through Pipeline
OTTAWA – Enbridge has received approval from the National Energy Board to start sending oil from Western Canada through its pipeline that runs from Sarnia, Ont. to Montreal.
Known as Line 9, the pipeline runs parallel to Highway 401 in eastern Ontario and through heavily urbanized parts of Toronto. It was built in 1976 to bring western oil to central Canada, but for the last 17 years it transported foreign oil to western Canada.
Enbridge will reverse the flow once more to send oil from Western Canada to refineries in Quebec. Enbridge is the parent company of Enbridge New Brunswick, a natural gas distributor with 12,000 customers in 10 New Brunswick communities.
“The successful hydrotests confirm the NEB’s confidence in the integrity of the pipeline and its confidence that the line can safely be returned to operation,” said the energy regulator in a statement.
The project is controversial, with many people worried about oil spills – 171 individuals and groups participated in the NEB’s hearing process.