IGU enters final construction phase

Kay Cashman

Petroleum News

The Interior Gas Utility said Oct. 8 that the balance of plant work is “currently being completed on the large storage tank” in North Pole as it enters its final phase of construction.

The tank will be complete and will begin receiving liquid natural gas deliveries by the end of November, the utility said.

The completion of the tank “ensures meeting the requirements to qualify” for the state of Alaska’s storage tax credit for Fairbanks, IGU said.

“Balance of plant work is one of the final steps toward completing the construction of our 5.25 million-gallon LNG storage facility designed to provide security of winter supply and increase access to natural gas for thousands in our community,” Dan Britton, IGU’s general manager, was quoted as saying in the press release. “This is a massive step forward for affordable clean-burning energy, and we are excited to help ensure affordable energy choices for our community.”

IGU’s North Pole LNG storage facility ground improvement contract has been awarded and will begin “this week.”

The ground improvement is “a major step towards constructing the North Pole LNG storage facility and adding residential and commercial customers in the North Pole area,” IGU said.

“Progress has not always been as smooth or as fast as we would have liked,” IGU board chair Steve Haagenson said. “However, progress has been steady and always targeted to IGU’s stated mission.”

“As we celebrate public Natural Gas Week nationwide (Oct. 6-12) we recognize these two IGU milestones that bring natural gas closer for thousands more residents in our community. There are approximately 1,000 public natural gas systems throughout the United States, serving more than 5 million customers, and IGU is proud to be the Fairbanks North Star Borough’s natural gas provider,” the utility said, noting that is “focused on lowering energy costs and improving the quality of life for all those who live here and visit here.”

- KAY CASHMAN