Gibson Energy Announces 2021 Capital Budget

All financial figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gibson Energy Inc. announced today its outlook for growth capital expenditures in 2021 of up to $200 million. Projects currently sanctioned by the Board of Directors, or with strong line of sight thereto, comprise approximately two-thirds of that figure. Additionally, the Board of Directors has approved the allocation of between $25 million and $30 million in replacement capital expenditures in 2021.  

“While we have been able to effectively double our long-term, stable fee-based Infrastructure cash flows over the last four years, our focus in the current environment will be to further high-grade our growth capital,” said Steve Spaulding, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We will also ensure that we maintain our peer-leading capital structure, continue to improve our financial flexibility and preserve our fully-funded cushion as to be well positioned for when growth in our sector resumes. Based on our current customer discussions, we anticipate growth capital expenditures in 2021 will reach approximately $200 million as we sanction additional projects through the year, primarily at our Hardisty and Edmonton terminals.”

Consistent with Gibson’s focus on continuing to integrate the principles of ESG and Sustainability into all aspects of its business, the Board of Directors and Management have also sought to consider the 2021 capital budget with that lens, including emissions intensity. Gibson expects that at least half of its planned $200 million 2021 capital spend will be on projects that are beneficial on an ESG and Sustainability basis, whether directly to Gibson or in the infrastructure built on behalf of our customers.

The Company continues to expect 2020 growth capital expenditures to be approximately $300 million. In order to reach the $200 million outlook in 2021, the Company expects to sanction additional tankage in the second half of 2021, consistent with the lower end of its expected run-rate of 2 to 4 tanks per year. Gibson also continues to pursue additional phases at the DRU which, if sanctioned, would be incremental to the capital outlook.

Funding Position
Gibson remains fully-funded for all sanctioned capital, with significant internal funding capacity above the full year outlook. This 2021 funding position is the result of the sustained growth of the Company’s Infrastructure businesses and outperformance from the Marketing business in recent years, increasing retained cash flows and further strengthening Gibson’s balance sheet. It is also based on a conservative outlook for the Marketing segment within the Company’s long-term run-rate and assuming target leverage on new infrastructure capital of between 50% and 60%, consistent with Gibson’s Governing Financial Principles.