Press Release
All financial figures are approximate and in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. This news release refers to certain financial measures that are not specified, defined or determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), including adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”). For more information see “Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures” herein.
CALGARY, Alberta–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Pembina Pipeline Corporation (“Pembina” or the “Company”) (TSX: PPL; NYSE: PBA) announced today its 2025 financial guidance and provided a business update.
Highlights
Business Update
Pembina anticipates a record setting financial year in 2024 reflecting the positive impact of recent acquisitions, growing volumes in the WCSB, and a strong contribution from the marketing business. As expected, volumes in the conventional pipelines business have strengthened in the fourth quarter relative to the first three quarters of the year.
In 2024, the Company meaningfully advanced its strategy through the full consolidation of Alliance Pipeline and Aux Sable (the “Alliance/Aux Sable Transaction”), and by reaching a positive final investment decision on the Cedar LNG Project. These two accomplishments highlight Pembina’s focus on strengthening the existing franchise, increasing exposure to resilient end-use markets, and accessing global market pricing for Canadian energy products. In addition, Pembina Gas Infrastructure (“PGI”) announced transactions with Veren Inc. and Whitecap Resources Inc., creating opportunities with attractive economics that are expected to enhance asset utilization, capture future volumes, and benefit Pembina’s full value chain. Through these two transactions, we are realizing the vision set forth with the creation of PGI in 2022.
Other accomplishments over the past year include the completion of the $430 million Phase VIII Peace Pipeline Expansion and the $90 million NEBC MPS Expansion, on time and under budget; sanctioning $210 million (net to Pembina) of new projects, including the Wapiti Expansion and K3 Cogeneration Facility; and entering into long-term agreements with Dow Chemical Canada to supply up to 50,000 barrels per day (“bpd”) of ethane for their Path2Zero Project (the “Dow Supply Agreement”).
Through its extensive asset base and integrated value chain, Pembina can provide a full suite of transportation and midstream services across multiple hydrocarbons – natural gas, crude oil, condensate, and NGL. This uniquely positions the Company to benefit from a robust, multi-year growth outlook for the WCSB driven by transformational developments that include the recent completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, new West Coast liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) and NGL export capacity, and the development of new petrochemical facilities creating significant demand for ethane and propane. Growing production and demand for services in the WCSB continues to provide opportunities to increase utilization on existing assets and pursue expansion opportunities.
As attention turns to 2025, Pembina is focused on several key priorities including:
Alliance Pipeline CER Toll Review
The CER initiated a review of Alliance Pipeline’s tolls, which were previously approved by the CER. As such, the CER has ordered Alliance Pipeline to submit for approval a detailed toll application justifying why the current tolling methodology remains compliant with the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, or a new tolling methodology application. Likewise, the CER has ordered that the current tolls shall be deemed interim tolls until resolution of the above.
Alliance Pipeline’s tolls for the Canadian segment of the pipeline are approved by the CER, while its tolls for the United States segment are approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Alliance Pipeline’s Canadian long-term firm service tolls have remained level since they were approved by the CER in 2015, while its full path tolls to Chicago have declined by approximately 15 percent. In comparison, tolls on alternative systems have increased by approximately 30 percent. Likewise, Alliance Pipeline has operated at an industry leading reliability rate. Furthermore, Alliance Pipeline remains an ‘at-risk’ commercial model where returns and cost recovery are squarely driven by the customer demand for its service and Alliance Pipeline’s ability to efficiently provide such service. By contrast, the competitive alternatives and the majority of CER regulated Group 1 natural gas pipelines’ returns are not materially exposed to volume or cost recovery risk.
Alliance Pipeline is working collaboratively with its stakeholders through the CER review process and will remain focused on delivering the highest standards of service that customers have come to expect. Pembina will work expeditiously throughout 2025 with shippers towards a negotiated solution, in accordance with all CER direction.
Approximately 60 percent of the adjusted EBITDA contribution from Alliance Pipeline is generated from the Canadian portion of the pipeline. Pembina’s 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance, discussed below, assumes the existing toll is in effect for the full year.
Board of Directors Appointment
Pembina is pleased to announce that Mr. Alister Cowan has been appointed to the board of directors effective December 3, 2024.
Mr. Cowan has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry and has significant financial executive level experience at various public companies. In 2023, he was Executive Advisor of Suncor Energy Inc. (“Suncor”) and was previously Chief Financial Officer of Suncor from 2014 to 2023 where he oversaw financial operations, accounting, investor relations, treasury, tax, internal audit, and enterprise risk management. Prior to joining Suncor, Alister was Chief Financial Officer of Husky Energy Inc. from 2008 to 2014. Before that, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority. Mr. Cowan is a non-executive director of The Chemours Company and of Smiths Group PLC. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Finance from Heriot-Watt University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Mr. Cowan has also been appointed to the audit committee.
“The board of directors is excited to welcome Alister, and we look forward to working with him. Alister is a seasoned financial executive with extensive experience in Canadian energy. We are sure to benefit from his contribution as we work together to ensure Pembina’s continued success during a transformational period of growth in the Canadian oil and gas industry,” said Henry Sykes, Chair of the Board.
2025 Guidance
Pembina is anticipating 2025 adjusted EBITDA of $4.2 billion to $4.5 billion. Relative to the midpoint of Pembina’s adjusted EBITDA guidance range for 2024, the major factors driving the outlook for 2025 adjusted EBITDA include:
Pembina has hedged approximately 32 percent of its 2025 frac spread exposure. For 2025, the weighted average price of Pembina’s frac spread hedges, excluding transportation and processing costs, is approximately C$36 per barrel, which compares to the prevailing 2025 forward price at the end of November 2024 of approximately C$37 per barrel.
The mid-point of the 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance range includes a forecasted contribution from the Marketing & New Ventures segment of $550 million.
Excluding the contribution from the Marketing & New Ventures segment, the midpoint of the 2025 guidance range reflects an approximately 5.5 percent increase in fee-based adjusted EBITDA, relative to the forecast for 2024. Further, Pembina remains on-track to achieve four to six percent compound annual growth of fee-based adjusted EBITDA per share from 2023-2026.
The lower and upper ends of the guidance range are framed primarily as a function of (1) commodity prices and the resulting contribution from the marketing business; (2) interruptible volumes on key systems; and (3) the U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate.
Current income tax expense in 2025 is anticipated to be $415 million to $470 million as Pembina will continue to benefit from the availability of tax pools from assets recently placed into service.
Pembina’s 2025 adjusted EBITDA may be directly impacted by market-based prices as follows:
|
Key Variable |
2025 Guidance |
Sensitivity |
Impact on Adjusted EBITDA |
AECO / Station 2 Natural Gas (CAD/GJ)(2) |
$1.94 |
± $0.50 |
± 20 |
|
Chicago Natural Gas (USD/MMbtu) |
$2.90 |
± $0.50 |
± 49 |
|
Mont Belvieu Propane (USD/usg) |
$0.80 |
± $0.10 |
± 70 |
|
Foreign Exchange Rate (USD/CAD) |
$1.39 |
± $0.05 |
± 50 |
|
(1) |
Includes the impact of Pembina’s hedging program. |
|||
(2) |
In addition, Pembina has asymmetric exposure to AECO natural gas prices through a commercial contract with a customer, where Pembina benefits as AECO price rises above $3.00/GJ but does not have downside risk. |
2025 Capital Investment
Pembina’s 2025 capital program is expected to be allocated as follows:
($ millions) |
2025 Budget(1) |
|
Pipelines Division |
$330 |
|
Facilities Division |
$345 |
|
Marketing & New Ventures Division |
$15 |
|
Corporate |
$55 |
|
Capital Expenditures |
$745 |
|
Contributions to Equity Accounted Investees |
$355 |
|
Capital Expenditures and Contributions to Equity Accounted Investees |
$1,100 |
|
(1) Capital budget shown in Canadian dollars based on a forecasted average USD/CAD exchange rate of 1.39. |
Pipelines Division capital expenditures primarily relate to sustaining capital, a terminal expansion within the conventional pipeline system, development spending on potential future projects, including the Fox Creek-to-Namao Peace Pipeline Expansion, and investments in smaller growth projects, including various laterals and terminals.
Capital expenditures in the Facilities Division primarily relate to construction of the RFS IV Expansion, smaller growth projects, and sustaining capital spending.
Capital expenditures within the Marketing and New Ventures Division and the Corporate segment are primarily targeted at information technology enhancements to further the Company’s continuous improvement aspirations.
Contributions to Equity Accounted Investees includes approximately $200 million of contributions to Cedar LNG to fund the construction of the Cedar LNG Project, and contributions to PGI to fund development of the Wapiti Expansion, K3 Cogeneration Facility, as well as development activities related to the previously announced agreements with Veren Inc. and Whitecap Resources Inc.
The Company’s 2025 capital program includes:
In addition to the 2025 capital investment program detailed above, Pembina is in development of potential additional projects that, if sanctioned, would increase the 2025 capital program by up to $200 million. These projects primarily include pipeline and terminal upgrades in support of volume growth in NEBC, the Fox Creek-to-Namao Peace Pipeline Expansion, investments related to the Dow Supply Agreement, including the addition of a de-ethanizer tower at RFS III within the Redwater Complex, and optimization of the Prince Rupert Terminal to allow for the use of larger vessels, which would reduce per unit costs.
Capital Allocation
Pembina continues to execute its strategy within a fully funded model and consistent with its financial guardrails. Within the 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance range, Pembina expects to generate positive free cash flow with all 2025 capital investment program scenarios being fully funded by cash flow from operating activities, net of dividends. Under prevailing market and economic conditions, Pembina expects to prioritize the use of excess free cash flow to debt repayment in 2025. As has been our approach since 2021, Pembina will continue to evaluate the merits of debt repayment relative to share repurchases while considering expected future funding requirements along with prevailing market conditions and the risk-adjusted returns of the associated alternatives. Pembina expects to exit 2025 with a proportionately consolidated debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.4 to 3.7 times. Excluding the debt related to the construction of the Cedar LNG project this ratio would be 3.2 to 3.5 times.
About Pembina
Pembina Pipeline Corporation is a leading energy transportation and midstream service provider that has served North America’s energy industry for 70 years. Pembina owns an integrated network of hydrocarbon liquids and natural gas pipelines, gas gathering and processing facilities, oil and natural gas liquids infrastructure and logistics services, and an export terminals business. Through our integrated value chain, we seek to provide safe and reliable energy solutions that connect producers and consumers across the world, support a more sustainable future and benefit our customers, investors, employees and communities. For more information, please visit www.pembina.com.
Purpose of Pembina: We deliver extraordinary energy solutions so the world can thrive.
Pembina is structured into three Divisions: Pipelines Division, Facilities Division and Marketing & New Ventures Division.
Pembina’s common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under PPL and PBA, respectively. For more information, visit www.pembina.com.
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