Enbridge Inc. has confirmed Sinopec Corp., China's largest-oil refiner, is part of a consortium of producers and refiners that provided $100 million to push its controversial Northern Gateway project through the regulatory process.
An investment in the consortium gives a company the right for capacity on the $5.5-billion pipeline and an ownership stake.
The 1,170-kilometre pipeline -- which would pass just north of Prince George -- is just beginning a federal review expected to take two years.
The funding from Western Canadian oil producers and southeast Asian refiners matched $100 million already invested by Calgary-based Enbridge.
Sinopec is the only funder of the consortium that has been identified as Enbridge has refused to divulge the names of the contributors.
"Earlier this week, Sinopec indicated they were one of the funding partners -- so, I guess we can now speak to them," Enbridge president and CEO Pat Daniel told an investors conference at Whistler.
Sinopec's refining capacity ranks third in the world, according to the company. It's refineries are mainly located in China's southeast coastal area.
