(Source: MARKETWIRE)

One of Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.'s (TSX: PNG)(TSX: PNG.PR.A) ("PNG")
large industrial customers, West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. ("West
Fraser"), announced the permanent closure of its Eurocan mill in
Kitimat, B.C. which is expected to take place on January 31, 2010.
Under the terms of its transportation agreement with PNG for the
Kitimat plant, which expires December 31, 2013, West Fraser is
entitled to cancel its obligations by providing PNG with a
termination payment that would recover almost 80 percent of the lost
revenues under the remaining term of the agreement.
PNG expects that the termination payment would be given the same
regulatory treatment as the Methanex termination payment and would be
amortized over the remaining life of the agreement. In addition, as
was the case with the closure of the Methanex plant, lost future
revenues from the West Fraser contract are expected to be recoverable
through standard rate applications to the British Columbia Utilities
Commission. If this is the case, PNG's anticipates limited impact on
future earnings.
PNG will endeavour to replace the lost revenues through transactions
similar to the previously announced agreement with Merrill Lynch
Commodities Inc. to contract for the 75 MMcf per day of the Company's
excess pipeline capacity. The Company expects that the majority of
revenues generated in new transactions of this nature will flow to
the benefit of customers in the form of rate reductions. However,
even if the lost revenues are not recovered from market transactions,
management believes that, with continuing low commodity costs, PNG's
delivered gas costs to customers should remain competitive with and
in fact lower than electricity prices.
PNG and its employees sympathize with the Eurocan employees, their
families and the Kitimat community.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes forward-looking statements. PNG believes
the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable but no
assurance is given that such expectations will be correct. All
forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and
assumptions based on information available at the time the assumption
was made and on its experience and perception of historical trends,
current conditions and expected further developments as well as other
factors deemed appropriate in the circumstances.
By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various
risks and uncertainties that are known and unknown, including those
material risks discussed in the Company's 2009 Annual Information
Form under "Risk Factors". Such risks and uncertainties include but
are not limited to: general economic conditions and markets; gas
supply and availability; gas commodity price volatility; competition;
decisions by regulators; seasonal weather patterns; federal and
provincial climate change initiatives; financing of investments as
well as the value of such investments; the cost and availability of
capital; the impact on the Company's liquidity if it were to go
offside of the covenants in its debt facilities; successful execution
of strategic initiatives; the ability of the Company to attract and
retain quality employees; and the impact of accounting changes,
including the transition to International Financial Reporting
Standards. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this
forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof and
the Company 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 applicable
securities laws.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Pacific Northern Gas
Ltd. (TSX: PNG)(TSX: PNG.PR.A) owns and operates natural gas
transmission and distribution systems. The Company's western
transmission line extends from the Spectra Energy gas transmission
system north of Prince George to tidewater at Kitimat and Prince
Rupert, and provides service to 12 communities and a number of
industrial facilities. In the northeast, Pacific Northern's
subsidiary Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. provides gas distribution
service in the Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Tumbler Ridge areas.
Further information is available on the Company's website at:
www.png.ca.
Contacts:
Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
Kevin Teitge
Vice President, Corporate Development and Treasurer
(604) 691-5689
Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
Craig Donohue, Director, Regulatory Affairs &
Gas Supply and Assistant Secretary
(604) 691-5673
www.png.ca
SOURCE: Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.