News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EUB SETS DATE FOR FINAL HEARING ON BITUMEN CONSERVATION

Calgary, Alberta (March 3, 2005) - The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) has set June 14, 2005 as the starting date of  the final public hearing under Phase 3 of the EUB's Bitumen Conservation Requirements concerning gas production in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area.  The final hearing will take place in Calgary, Alberta.

EUB Decision 2004-088, issued on October 14, 2004, indicated that the final EUB hearing on this matter will allow full consideration of all issues. The EUB will not impose restrictions on the evidence parties may present at the final hearing, assuming that parties adhere to the EUB's normal hearing requirements and bring forward issues or evidence that are relevant.

To date, six parties have filed substantive submissions to the EUB for the final hearing, including: Canadian Natural Resources Resources Ltd.; ISH Energy Ltd.; Nexen; Paramount Energy Trust; Petro-Canada; and the EUB Staff Submission Group.
 
Six other parties have indicated that they take an interest in the proceeding but have not yet filed submissions, including: BP Canada Energy Company; Devon Canada Corporation; EnCana; Japan Canada Oil Sands Limited; Stylus Exploration Inc., and PrimeWest Energy Inc.

The EUB ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta's resources and utilities services take place in a manner that is fair, responsible, and in the public interest.

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Note to editors: All submissions and other material related to this proceeding are available on the EUB website at http://www.ercb.ca  

For more information, please contact:

Tom Neufeld, EUB Communications
Tel: (403) 297-8565
Fax: (403) 297-3757
Email: tom.neufeld@gov.ab.ca

NR 2005-03