The Government of Saskatchewan says it has received news that the Enbridge Line 3 replacement pipeline, which stretches from Alberta, through Saskatchewan and Manitoba, to Wisconsin, is complete.

The Province says 70 per cent of Saskatchewan oil moves through Enbridge’s mainline. The current capacity of Enbridge’s Mainline system is approximately 2.9 million barrels per day. Once Line 3 is in service, it will be able to transport roughly 3.2 million barrels per day, an increase of approximately 300,000 barrels per day, from western Canada to refineries in the U.S.

The 1,765 kilometre, Line 3 replacement pipeline is the largest project in Enbridge’s history and a government news release says it includes state-of-the-art technology and safety measures.

Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre says. “Enbridge’s completion of this major replacement project means we will now be able to safely and reliably move more oil to markets, while we continue to fulfill our Growth Plan 2030 target of increasing oil production in Saskatchewan by 25 per cent.”

The government says the province’s oil and gas sector accounts for 15 per cent of Saskatchewan’s GDP. It generated $5.9 billion in combined value of production in 2020 and more than 29,000 direct and indirect jobs in Saskatchewan.

The Enbridge Mainline carries light crude and natural gas liquids under Lake Michigan and Lake Huron to the three refineries in Sarnia, Ontario.