ANGDA picks Northern Economics to write plan for link to ANS gas line

The Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority said May 3 it has selected Northern Economics Inc. to write the enterprise business plan for its project to link North Slope natural gas to Southcentral Alaska.

The plan includes market determinations, cost estimates, final business operations, project financing and financial analysis.

Northern Economics has teamed up with Financial Engineering Inc., Michael Baker Jr. Inc. and Western Financial Group for the project, which will be led by Pat Burden and Cal Kerr, president and project coordinator respectively of Northern Economics.

Joe Griffith, ANGDA’s enterprise coordinator is leading the authority’s overall work in determining potential business activities, market structures and financing.

ANGDA is a public corporation of the State of Alaska created by a ballot initiative in the November 2002 general election. It has broad powers to acquire, condition, transport and market North Slope natural gas with emphasis on getting gas to consumers throughout Alaska at the lowest cost possible.

Harold Heinze, ANGDA’s chief executive officer, is a former president of ARCO Alaska and a former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Griffith is a former CEO/CFO of Chugach Electric.

ANGDA has recently moved into new headquarters inside the Joint Pipeline Office building at 411 W. 4th Avenue in Anchorage.

ANGDA’s board, appointed by Gov. Frank Murkowski, includes Andy Warwick, chairman, Scott Heyworth, vice chairman, David Cuddy, Bob Favretto, John Kelsey, Bob Stinson and Dan Sullivan.

—Petroleum News