MarkWest Energy Partners and The Energy & Minerals Group Announce Major Expansion of Hopedale Fractionation Complex

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MWE) (“MarkWest or “the Partnership”) and The Energy & Minerals Group (“EMG”), today announced plans to add additional capacity at their Hopedale fractionation and marketing complex (“Hopedale complex”) in Harrison County, Ohio in order to meet growing natural gas liquids (NGLs) production in the Utica and Marcellus Shales under new contracted commitments from numerous producer customers. The Hopedale complex is jointly owned by a subsidiary of MarkWest and MarkWest Utica EMG, L.L.C. (“MarkWest Utica EMG”) a joint venture between the Partnership and EMG. The expansion will double the propane and heavier fractionation capacity at the Hopedale complex to 120,000 barrels per day (Bbl/d) and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2015.