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Northwest Territories Natives make pitch for federal money
Gary Park PNA Canadian correspondent
The Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline Corp. has made its case for a one-third Native equity stake in any gas pipeline from the Mackenzie Delta in a 200-page business plan to the Canadian government. (See related story on page 1.)
Hopes now hang on the federal response to the MVAPC’s pitch for C$70 million in federal money to allow the Native group to play a full role in the three-year, C$250 million “project definition phase,” launched in February by the Mackenzie Delta Producers Group, to gather technical, engineering and environmental data in support of regulatory filings. Delta gas seen as economically viable A spokesman for the MVAPC said the C$3 billion development of Delta gas is now seen as economically “viable,” and northern leaders believe the producers will proceed.
For Natives to have a full stake in the pipeline, they must demonstrate that they can pay their full share of the costs, he said.
A senior executive with Imperial Oil Ltd., the lead partner in the producers ‘ group, agreed with that assessment and underlined the critical nature of northern support.
Imperial senior vice president K.C. Williams told reporters June 17 said that as long as the MVAPC “is committed to work with us and as long as they’re able to come in with the financing for their share of the pre-development phase, then we’re going to proceed to the end of that phase.
“We’re going to go ahead and secure all the regulatory applications,” he said.
A delegation from the MVAPC is expected to meet this summer with federal Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault to discuss the request for C$70 million in federal assistance.
An official in Nault’s office confirmed the 200-page MVAPC business plan had been received and would now be closely reviewed.
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