Harris upbeat on Gateway

Kitimat Sentinel
August 20, 2008

Public consultation on Enbridge’s Gateway pipeline project is set to begin in September.

The 1,150 km pipeline would run from Kitimat to Strathcona Country, just outside Edmonton.

The twin pipeline would transport oil to Kitimat to be loaded in oil tankers heading to California and Asia.

Condensate, used to dilute the heavy oil so it can be piped, would be imported through here and piped to customers in the oil sands.

Ex-Skeena MLA Roger Harris is Enbridge’s vice-president of communications and aboriginal partnerships and last week he outlined progress on the project at a Prince George Chamber of Commerce meeting.

He explained the proposed route for the project would follow Highway 37 North from Kitimat before veering east and passing just north of Burns Lake, south of Fort St. James, north of Bear Lake, south of Grand Prairie, south of Mayerthorpe and into Strathcona Country.

The project involves driving three tunnels totaling 12 kilometres in length through the Telkwa Pass.

Harris said his focus is making sure the project benefits Northern BC.

In 2005, Enbridge estimated the project would cost $4 billion. “It’s safe to say that number has changed significantly,” Harris acknowledged, saying current estimates were in the $6 billion to $8 billion range.

“We’re working to finalize that number now.” he said, adding, “This will be one of the largest and most complex pipeline projects in North America.”

The project is estimated to employ about 5,000 people over 12 construction sites and see $2.7 billion in wages spent in Northern BC.

Enbridge shelved the project in 2005 because of a lack of commercial support, Harris said. This time Enbridge has secured 10 commercial partners interested in using the pipeline to ship to international markets.

Condensate is currently imported at Kitimat by Encana and is sent by rail tankers to Edmonton, he added.

Harris said six teams in BC and Alberta are working with 50 First Nations along the route to sign consultation agreements.

And by the end of August Enbridge will have signed 10 agreements to fund research and consultation capacity with First Nations.

“We are going to be offering an equity package to First Nations. We’re thinking 10 per cent,” Harris said.

“That would make First Nations owners in this project and meet their long-term benefits. We’re bringing an entirely new approach.”

Harris said Enbridge is urging the federal government to begin its consultation process with First Nations groups like the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council.

Open houses on the project will run September to November. Enbridge anticipates going to regulatory review in 2009, completing that process by 2012 and finishing construction by 2015.