ANGDA hiring spur line project manager

In advance of the upcoming legislative session in January, the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority is spending up to $250,000 for a project manager to bridge the gap between years of data collection and a major engineering effort on a spur line.

The spur line is the centerpiece of ANGDA’s efforts to deliver natural gas to the state. As envisioned, the spur would run from Fairbanks to existing facilities at the Beluga River fields, tapping a stream of North Slope natural gas for the population center of the state.

In order to sanction the estimated $1.5 billion spur line, ANGDA believes it needs to conduct around $50 million in engineering and project management work over 2009.

The project manager would help ANGDA define the work scope for that engineering effort, as well as lead the selection process for the contractor, and act as a liaison between ANGDA and the state government. The contract is set to begin Jan. 5.

ANGDA is expected to make a $50 million budget request to the Legislature in January. If state lawmakers choose not to fund the project, ANGDA will most likely issue bonds.

—Eric Lidji