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Husky Energy Inc. says the pipeline failure that dumped 225,000 litres of heavy crude near and into the North Saskatchewan River in July was caused by ground movement triggered by heavy rain and weak soil conditions.

“The break was a sudden, one-time event in a section of the pipe that had buckled due to the force of ground movement,” the Calgary-based company said in a summary of its investigation filed Thursday with the provincial government.

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The break occurred 160 metres from the south riverbank, leading to about 40 per cent of the spilled crude — 90,000 litres — flowing into the river, Husky said in the report.

As of Sept. 30, the company had spent $90 million on cleanup efforts.

Husky was expected to file its final report on Oct. 21, but was given a 30-day extension after explaining that geotechnical and metallurgical reports being prepared by Stantec Consulting Ltd. and Acuren Group Inc. were taking longer than expected.