Oil firms sign pipeline ownership deal with N.W.T. native groups
YELLOWKNIFE, Oct 15, 2001 (The Canadian Press via COMTEX) -- A consortium of energy companies signed a deal Monday giving northern aboriginals a 33 per cent stake in a proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline.
The consortium, made up of Imperial Oil, Shell Canada, Conoco Inc. and ExxonMobil Canada, signed a memorandum of understanging with the region's natives represented by the Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline Corp. in the territorial capital.
The proposed $3-billion Arctic gas pipeline would bring northern gas to southern markets. The oil companies are still analysing the project's economics, but getting aboriginal support has been a critical element in their development plan.
"The producers group values its relationship with the aboriginal communities, and this memorandum establishes the framework for moving forward," said K.C. Williams, an Imperial Oil senior vice-president, on behalf of the producer group.
"It lays the groundwork for a business relationship beneficial to the peoples of the North and to resource developers."
An agreement between northern natives and the consortium was initially reached last May. But the deal was delayed after several native communities in the N.W.T. - notably the Deh Cho First Nations - refused to sign because of outstanding federal land claims.
The producers decided to move ahead after a meeting earlier this month between federal Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault and Williams |
