1. EN
  2. FR
  3. ES

Jun 30 2010

Keystone Pipeline Starts Deliveries to U.S. Midwest

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 30, 2010) - TransCanada Corporation (TSX:TRP) (NYSE:TRP) (TransCanada) today announced that line fill of the first phase of the US$12 billion Keystone Pipeline has been completed and commercial deliveries of crude oil to U.S. Midwest markets at Wood River and Patoka, Illinois will commence on June 30, 2010.

"This represents a significant milestone in the overall development of the Keystone Pipeline project," says Hal Kvisle, TransCanada president and chief executive officer. "Looking forward, Keystone will play an important role in linking a secure and growing supply of Canadian crude oil with the largest refining markets in the United States, significantly improving North American energy security.

"The pipeline will also continue to have a significant impact on the North American economy through the thousands of manufacturing and construction jobs it is creating and the millions of dollars in tax revenues that will be paid annually to state and local authorities," added Mr. Kvisle. "Recently, an independent economic study found that the Keystone Gulf Coast expansion alone would inject more than US$20 billion into the U.S. economy and create 119,000 person-years of employment.

"We take pride in our long-standing reputation as a safe pipeline operator and socially responsible company," added Mr. Kvisle. "Construction and operation of the Keystone Pipeline system will continue to meet or exceed world-class safety and environmental standards. We are committed to being a reliable and safe operator that treats all stakeholders with honesty and respect."

Pipelines are the safest method of moving oil. TransCanada has been in the pipeline business for over 50 years and is a leader with one of the best pipeline safety and operating records in the industry. To ensure the safety and integrity of Keystone, TransCanada will monitor and control the pipeline system from a computerized control centre that is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If a drop in pressure or flow is detected, the affected portion of the pipeline could be isolated and removed from service by remotely closing the valves.

In Canada, the first phase of Keystone involved the conversion of approximately 864 kilometres (537 miles) of existing natural gas pipeline in Saskatchewan and Manitoba to crude oil pipeline service. It also included approximately 373 kilometres (232 miles) of new 30-inch diameter pipeline, 16 pump stations and the Keystone Hardisty Terminal. The U.S. portion of the Keystone Pipeline included 1,744 kilometres (1,084 miles) of new, 30-inch diameter pipeline in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. It also involved construction of 23 pump stations and delivery facilities at Wood River and Patoka, Illinois. TransCanada has commenced construction of the second phase of Keystone. It includes a 480 kilometre (298 mile) extension from Steele City, Nebraska to Cushing, Oklahoma and 11 new pump stations which will increase the capacity of the pipeline from 435,000 barrels per day to 591,000 barrels per day. The second phase of Keystone is expected to be in-service in the first quarter of 2011.

In July 2008, TransCanada announced plans to expand the Keystone crude oil pipeline system and provide additional capacity of 500,000 barrels per day from Western Canada directly to the U.S. Gulf Coast. An innovative and cost-competitive solution to a growing North American demand for energy, TransCanada received approval in March 2010 from both the National Energy Board in Canada and the South Dakota Public Utility Commission for the proposed Gulf Coast Expansion project. TransCanada expects to commence construction of the Gulf Coast expansion in the first quarter of 2011, pending the receipt of all regulatory approvals.

The Keystone Gulf Coast Expansion project is a 2,673 kilometre (1,661 mile), 36-inch crude oil pipeline that would begin at Hardisty, Alberta and extend southeast through Saskatchewan, Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. It would incorporate the portion of the Keystone Pipeline that is currently under construction through Kansas to Cushing, Oklahoma. The pipeline will then continue on through Oklahoma and Texas to a delivery point near existing terminals on the Gulf Coast, to serve the Port Arthur, Texas marketplace. When completed, the expansion project will increase the commercial capacity of the Keystone Pipeline system to approximately 1.1 million barrels per day.

The US$12 billion Keystone Pipeline system is 83 per cent subscribed with long-term, binding contracts that include commitments of 910,000 barrels per day for an average term of approximately 18 years.

To view a map of the proposed pipeline route and obtain other information about the pipeline, please visit the project web page at www.transcanada.com/keystone.html.

Images and video depicting the various stages of the pipelines construction are available at www.transcanada.com/mediacentre.html.

With more than 50 years' experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas and oil pipelines, power generation and gas storage facilities. TransCanada's network of wholly owned natural gas pipelines extends more than 60,000 kilometres (37,000 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is one of the continent's largest providers of gas storage and related services with approximately 380 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A growing independent power producer, TransCanada owns, or has interests in, over 11,700 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is developing one of North America's largest oil delivery systems. TransCanada's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. For more information visit: www.transcanada.com

TransCanada Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain certain information that is forward looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "may", "should", "estimate", "project", "outlook", "forecast" or other similar words are used to identify such forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this document are intended to provide TransCanada securityholders and potential investors with information regarding TransCanada and its subsidiaries, including management's assessment of TransCanada's and its subsidiaries' future financial and operations plans and outlook. Forward-looking statements in this document may include, among others, statements regarding the anticipated business prospects and financial performance of TransCanada and its subsidiaries, expectations or projections about the future, and strategies and goals for growth and expansion. All forward-looking statements reflect TransCanada's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made. Actual results or events may differ from those predicted in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the ability of TransCanada to successfully implement its strategic initiatives and whether such strategic initiatives will yield the expected benefits, the operating performance of TransCanada's pipeline and energy assets, the availability and price of energy commodities, capacity payments, regulatory processes and decisions, changes in environmental and other laws and regulations, competitive factors in the pipeline and energy sectors, construction and completion of capital projects, labour, equipment and material costs, access to capital markets, interest and currency exchange rates, technological developments and the current economic conditions in North America. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause TransCanada's actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. Additional information on these and other factors is available in the reports filed by TransCanada with Canadian securities regulators and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release or otherwise, and to not use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. TransCanada undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACT INFORMATION

TransCanada
Media Inquiries
Cecily Dobson/Terry Cunha
(403) 920-7859 or (800) 608-7859
or
Investor & Analyst Inquiries
David Moneta/Terry Hook
(403) 920-7911 or (800) 361-6522
www.transcanada.com