Mackenzie and/or Alaska Gas Pipeline News

Pablo2079

I haven't seen (or found) much news on either of these projects recently. Last I heard, there were significant issues being brought up by the First Nations.
Does anyone have any more recent news?

donshan

I am a newbie on this forum, but I am now retired from a 40 year career in energy related industries and remember this project coming up again and again. I saw this topic and can supply an answer and some comments.
The state of Alaska is now planning to build this pipeline as discussed in the news item link below (October 7, 2005)

The Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline was first approved by Congress under the Carter Administration in 1977, with a completion date of 1984. The Canadian government also agreed, but there was much opposition, including Indian rights, right of way problems and lower 48 NG corporate opposition etc. . The Reagan administration also wanted to build it too " if private financing could be found." It has been deferred and deferred.

I believe the problem with the Carter approach is there was some sort of Federal guarantee that if the price of natural gas fell below $1.35 in the years 2010- 2035 Federal funds would bail out the finances.
Seems mighty cheap now! Personally I wish it had been finished in 1984 since this is big supply of NG and could help Canada develop supplies too.

President Reagan also supported it, but with private financing"
">My Administration supports the completion of this project through private financing, and it is our hope that this action will clear the way to moving ahead with it. I believe that this project is important not only in terms of its contribution to the energy security of North America. It is also a symbol of U.S.-Canadian ability to work together cooperatively in the energy area for thebenefit of both countries and peoples. This same spirit can be very important in resolving the other problems we face in the energy area. ...
>Ronald Reagan
>The White House,
>October 15, 1981."

Alaska is NOW proposing to build it!
http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/07/news/economy/alaska.reut/
"The proposed pipeline would cost at least $20 billion, according to state and oil industry estimates. It would run though western Canada to the Midwest, delivering about 4 billion cubic feet (113 million cubic meters) per day.

The line would operate for decades, delivering the 35 trillion (991 billion) cubic feet of conventional natural gas known to lie within the North Slope oil fields. Alaskan officials have tried for three decades to persuade someone to buy that natural gas, but poor economics stymied pipeline ambitions until now, Murkowski said."

Friends of the Earth oppose it:
www.foe.org/powerpolitics/10.1.pdf -
"The Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline is another excuse to subsidize Alaska’s economy and the profits of companies worth billions of dollars. Both pipeline routes will have significant environmental impacts and should undergo full environmental assessments before a route decision is made. Furthermore, continued federal subsidization of fossil fuel projects will continue to feed the nation’s addiction to fossil fuels "