Enbridge Coming to Town

By 250 News, Prince George,
Friday, November 14, 2008

Red line represents path of proposed twin pipeline ( map courtesy Enbridge)

Prince George, B.C.- Enbridge will be starting its public consultation process next week and will bring its case for the Northern Gateway pipeline project to Prince George on Thursday. The company’s open house sessions will talk about the planned twin pipeline project from the Edmonton area, through to a new marine terminal in Kitimat.

One line would carry petroleum to the coast for shipping to other regions. The east bound line would carry condensate from the coast to the Edmonton area. (condensate is used to thin petroleum products for pipeline transport)

The petroleum line will be 36 inches in diameter and 1170 kilometers long. It will carry about 525 thousand barrels of petroleum each day.

The condensate line would be 20 inches in diameter and carry about 193, thousand barrels of condensate per day.

Enbridge quotes Initiatives prince George CEO Tim McEwan as one of the supporters of the project “Northern Gateway represents a real opportunity for the North. It will create jobs and develop skills that will benefit northern communities over the long term.”

Enbridge has lots of ground to cover in more ways than one. There is public consultation and input an environmental assessment process, consultation and relationship building with first Nations and, if all goes well, preparation and construction. It is a path that will take Enbridge about 7 years to complete.

In addition to the environmental and safety concerns as the line covers the land, there is also the matter of issues as they apply to marine environmental concerns.

Enrbridge has publicly stated (on its website) that it is open to First Nations having an “Equity Investment Option for Aboriginal communities to benefit directly" in other words, First Nations are invited to make a cash investment in the project and become business partners.

The lines would cross B.C. north of Prince George, but there is an opportunity for Prince George to supply materials, equipment and skilled labour for the 4000 direct and indirect jobs Enbridge says the construction of the line would create.

The full open house schedule for the Prince George region is as follows:

Monday November 17
Burns Lake
College of New Caledonia
545 Hwy 16 West
4:00-8:00pm

Tuesday November 18
Fort St. James
Stuart Lake Seniors Association Recreation Centre
250 Simon Fraser Avenue
4:00-8:00pm

Wednesday November 19
Vanderhoof
Elks Hall
474 East Victoria Street
4:00-8:00pm

Thursday November 20
Prince George
Coast Inn of the North
770 Brunswick Street
4:00-8:00pm