Mackenzie gas line could be delayed

A panel reviewing the proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline says it needs an additional five months of public hearings, which could push the startup date for the pipeline into 2012.

The Joint Review Panel has an additional 24 dates in its schedule and does not now expect to complete its hearings until mid-April. The panel has four months after the end of the hearings to submit its final report to the federal government.

Panel manager Paula Pacholek said the extension accommodates the needs of presenters, CBC reported.

The joint review panel, which is looking at environmental and social issues, was supposed to finish in November.

But the new schedule will likely push the startup date for the pipeline into 2012, from Imperial Oil’s target goal of 2011, according to the Globe and Mail. Imperial is the lead partner in the project and has not yet said it is abandoning the 2011 target.

“Certainly, it’s fair to say that the time frame is challenged, no question,” said Hart Searle, an Imperial spokesman.

—Alan Bailey