UPDATE 1-Enbridge says Saskatchewan blockades to be lifted

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CALGARY, Alberta, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Enbridge Inc (ENB.TO) is optimistic that the blockades by First Nations groups in Saskatchewan that have halted construction on its C$3 billion ($2.76 billion) Alberta Clipper oil pipeline to the United States could be lifted later on Friday, a spokesman said.

Glenn Herchak, a spokesman for Canada's No. 2 pipeline company, said Enbridge has agreed to boost training and jobs for the two Saskatchewan native groups that put blockades in place on Sunday and Monday.

Those agreements, negotiated on Thursday, must be approved by the two groups, and that approval is expected later on Friday, he said.

"We had discussions late into last night," Herchak said. "We are optimistic the First Nations will remove their blockades later today."

Two Saskatchewan treaty groups blockaded construction of the line in two locations: just outside the provincial capital of Regina and near Kerrobert, in western Saskatchewan. The pipeline will carry 450,000 barrels of oil sands crude from Hardisty, Alberta, to Superior, Wisconsin.

Chief Sheldon Wuttunee of the Red Pheasant First Nation, said he also expects the blockades to be lifted on Friday afternoon.

"They offered some good incentives for the First Nations peoples to become more involved in the industry," he said.

Construction on the Alberta Clipper line began in August and it is slated to be in service by the middle of 2010.

Enbridge shares were up 89 Canadian cents at C$41.61 at midday on Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange. ($1=$1.08 Canadian) (Reporting by Scott Haggett; Editing by Peter Galloway)