Provident Energy Trust Provides a Strategic Planning Update

Provident Energy Trust ("Provident") (TSX: PVE.UN)(NYSE: PVX) outlines the strategic initiatives it is undertaking respecting its investment in its United States businesses, BreitBurn Energy Partners ("BreitBurn"), a public master limited partnership, and BreitBurn Energy Company L.P. ("Devco"), a private partnership substantially owned by Provident. Provident also provides an update with respect to its planning process initiated to facilitate business growth and performance and access to capital. The planning process has also been in response to the Canadian Federal Government's decision to impose growth restrictions on Canadian energy trusts and, effective 2011, implement a tax on income trust distributions.

Provident has initiated a strategic review process for its U.S. operations which will assess, among other things, the possible sale of the BreitBurn master limited partnership units owned by Provident, as well as Provident's interest in BreitBurn GP LLC ("the General Partner"), the general partner of BreitBurn and also its interest in Devco. Provident currently owns approximately 14.8 million units or approximately 22% of BreitBurn including units held by the General Partner of which Provident indirectly owns approximately 96%. Provident, through a wholly owned subsidiary, indirectly owns approximately 96% of Devco. The strategic review process will be ongoing and while it is Provident's intention to monetize its U.S. investment, there is no certainty that this process will result in any changes to Provident's ownership stake in its U.S. holdings. Provident has retained Morgan Stanley as its exclusive financial advisor in connection with this strategic review process.

Provident delivered an offer to BreitBurn providing BreitBurn the opportunity to acquire Devco (the "Offer") as an initial step in its strategic review process. The Offer was delivered in accordance with Provident's obligations to BreitBurn under an Omnibus Agreement (the "Omnibus Agreement") between Provident and BreitBurn. The Offer formally expired and Provident expects to initiate a formal auction sales process respecting Devco, all in accordance with the Omnibus Agreement.

"BreitBurn's rapid growth has delivered considerable value to Provident and BreitBurn unitholders, while our organizations have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship," said Provident President and Chief Executive Officer, Tom Buchanan. "However, as BreitBurn has funded its accretive growth through U.S. capital markets, Provident's ownership in the MLP has been reduced to approximately 22%. At this ownership level we view BreitBurn as an investment rather than a strategic growth vehicle for Provident."

BreitBurn's assets consist primarily of producing and non-producing crude oil and natural gas reserves located in the Los Angeles Basin in California, the Antrim Shale in Michigan, the Wind River and Big Horn Basins in central Wyoming, the Permian Basin in West Texas, the Sunniland Trend in Florida, and the New Albany Shale in Indiana and Kentucky. BreitBurn was formed in 2006 and its units are listed for trading on NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BBEP". Devco's assets consist primarily of producing and non-producing crude oil reserves located in Los Angeles, Orange and Santa Barbara Counties in California.

Provident continues to assess its business plans and corporate structure as part of its overall planning in order to optimize business performance, facilitate business growth, improve overall access to capital and enhance the cost of capital for Provident's businesses. This planning is also required to respond to the challenges arising from the Canadian Federal Government's decision to impose growth restrictions on Canadian energy trusts and, effective 2011, implement a tax on income trust distributions.

Provident intends through this planning initiative to consider the most viable strategic and structural options available to the trust with the objectives of capturing and protecting unitholder value going forward. Certain options under consideration include the separation of the oil and natural gas production and the midstream components of Provident's Canadian business. The possible separation of the upstream and midstream businesses or other alternatives reflect Provident's view that the full value of the component parts of the business are not currently being realized in the market. Provident cautions that the planning required before implementation of any plans will be lengthy and complex and there is no certainty that the planning will result in significant changes to Provident.

Provident's planning initiatives will not impact Provident's capital program, budget or guidance. The initiative confirms Provident's belief in the high quality of its asset base, the strength of its operations and the excellence of its people. Accordingly, throughout the planning initiative, Provident will operate its Canadian businesses in the ordinary course and continue to execute its business plan and to assess and undertake strategic growth initiatives.