Our First 60 Years

Sixty years ago, on April 30, 1949, Interprovincial Pipe Line Company received its charter from the Canadian Government. That Act of Parliament launched a success story that spans generations and nations.

Originally envisioned as a pipeline to carry Leduc crude from Edmonton to refineries in Regina, the scope of the system was expanding across the Canadian prairies and into the United States Midwest even before the first shovel went in the ground.

Our first full year of pipeline operations saw the company ship 30.6 million barrels of oil, and our work was pivotal in spurring the growth of Western Canadian oil production.

Over the decades our performance has grown remarkably. Last year, in 2008, we shipped more than 730 million barrels of petroleum liquids. That’s an average of more than 2 million barrels per day. Along the way, we’ve continued to open new markets for Canadian crude oil, playing a critical role in developing North American energy infrastructure.

We’ve also expanded well beyond our original business as a crude oil carrier, both organically and through acquisitions. Last year, our Gas Transportation systems gathered and shipped billions of cubic feet of natural gas each day.

Enbridge Gas Distribution, Canada’s largest natural gas distribution company, delivered 444 billion cubic feet of natural gas to nearly 2 million customers.

We’ve delivered value to our shareholders – shares of Enbridge and its predecessor companies have been trading for more than 50 years and over that time we have achieved a 12.8% average annual return to shareholders.

And just as when we started, 60 years ago, Enbridge has been a company that looks beyond the horizon, both literally and figuratively, to chart a course for long-term success. We are leaders in the development of clean energy technologies. Through wind farms, the world’s first hybrid fuel cell power plant and our leading role in carbon capture and storage, we are committed to continue building safe, healthy and sustainable communities for the next 60 years and beyond.

^ top of page