Russian natural gas monopoly OAO Gazprom is angling for a role in a proposed Alaska gas pipeline, The Associated Press reported June 7.
AP quoted Gazprom Director Alexei Miller as saying Gazprom has made a proposal to BP and ConocoPhillips, which in April announced plans for a multibillion-dollar pipeline that would carry natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to the Lower 48.
BarentsObserver.com reported that Miller’s deputy, Aleksandr Medvedev, said Gazprom would also hold talks with TransCanada, a competing Alaska gas pipeline project that has been endorsed by the governor of Alaska under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act.
AP said Miller told an international business forum in St. Petersburg, Russia: “Gazprom has unique experience, knowledge and modern technology and is the most advanced company in the world in the realm of gas transport in trunk pipelines. So, participation in such a large-scale project as the construction of a pipeline from Alaska is interesting for us.”
Miller did not say whether there had been a response from BP and ConocoPhillips, AP said. The BP-ConocoPhillips proposal, dubbed Denali.
BP Exploration (Alaska) spokesman Steve Rinehart told Petroleum News that a number of companies have asked about joining the Denali gas pipeline project. Rinehart said while he couldn’t comment about individual companies, “I can tell you they see this as a world-class project and that we have started already.”
ConocoPhillips did not have a comment on the report.
TransCanada, which is awaiting approval of a license under AGIA by the Alaska Legislature, has not yet been contacted by Gazprom.
“We haven’t seen a proposal from them or any other party,” company spokeswoman Cecily Dobson told Petroleum News June 10.
AP said state-controlled Gazprom has been aggressively increasing its presence in Europe, drawing concerns of over-reliance on Russia for natural gas.
—Petroleum News and wire reports
Alyeska names new head of corporate communications
Michelle Egan is joining Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. as director of corporate communications.
Alyeska said June 4 that Egan will begin work June 30; she will be responsible for the company’s formal internal and external communications, including media relations, community relations, government relations and stakeholder relations.
Egan, raised in Kodiak, has nearly 20 years of professional experience in communications and has spent the past 10 years in the communications department at the Anchorage School District, where she managed internal and external communications.
Egan has also held communications positions with the Anchorage Economic Development Corp. and Junior Achievement of Alaska.
She has a B.A. from Boston College in psychology and holds Accredited in Public Relations certification.
—Petroleum News
Bristol Bay Native Corp. CEO retires
The chief operating officer of Bristol Bay Native Corp. has retired.
Tom Hawkins worked for the Anchorage-based Native corporation for 16 years before retiring May 30.
Company officials say that during Hawkins’ tenure, the company gained 26 subsidiaries and many were launched or acquired with Hawkins’ guidance.
The company also grew to more than $1 billion in revenue.
Before joining the company, Hawkins worked as a deputy commissioner at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
He also worked as chief executive officer of Choggiung Ltd., the village corporation in Dillingham.
The company appointed vice president April Ferguson as interim chief operating officer.
—The Associated Press
