Find Denali’s Latest FERC Report Here

Radio KENAI.  Natural gas was one topic of discussion at the community reception with Governor Sean Parnell (NGP Photo-r) on Monday. Governor Parnell discussed his hope that all of the groups involved with the two separate North Slope pipelines could come together. Later this year, both the Denali Project and the AGIA Project are expected to hold open seasons. We asked House Speaker Mike Chenault (NGP Photo-l) about the upcoming open seasons for the AGIA project and the Denali Project. He doesn’t expect the first open seasons to be a failure; however, he does expect stipulations with the bidding of natural gas. He said, until those involved come to an agreement with the stipulations, there would be no North Slope natural gas pipeline constructed.     *     Financial Post by Peter Koven.  The decades-delayed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline has received a much-needed shot in the arm after an independent panel gave its support for the $16.2-billion mega-project. But many barriers still stand in the way of development, and experts said this is just one step on a very long path to development that is still fraught with uncertainty.  (Note:  The Joint Pipeline Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline released its long awaited report on December 30, 2009. In the report which may be accessed at http://www.ngps.nt.ca/report.html the review panel highlights in Chapter 6 many of the Project Design, Construction and Operation information gaps that still need to be addressed by the proponents of the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline. The timely release of the second edition of Dr. White’s fourteen-volume book set and database library will assist both the proponents of the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project and the proponents of the two proposed Alaska Gas Pipeline Projects in addressing information gaps related to Design, Construction and Operation of a gas pipeline in permafrost affected terrain. To make the necessary arrangements to purchase these resources contact Dr. Les White at white@permafrost.ca or by phoning 613-746-4422.  See our report yesterday on this 14-book set.  -dh)     *     Alaska Dispatch by Rena Delbridge (NGP Photo).  In the decades-long quest to tap Alaska’s vast natural gas reserves, it has been easy for residents to forget their state is not the only petroleum province with big pipeline proposals. Alaska’s neighbor — Canada’s Northwest Territories — also has a multibillion-dollar proposal to develop its Arctic gas holdings, and that project has the potential to delay Alaska’s pipeline plans.  Known as the Mackenzie Valley gas project, this $16 billion Canadian proposal enjoyed a boost last month after a government panel offered it a favorable review. While the Mackenzie line is far from a sure thing, with many hurdles yet to clear, some argue it has a better chance of moving forward before an Alaska pipeline.     *      PNA.  Whether Canada’s frontier explorers see the initial round of regulatory backing for theMackenzie Gas Project as a shot in the arm for eventual development of Arctic oil and natural gas is being put to an early test.  The Canadian government has issued a call for nominations in both the Beaufort Sea–Mackenzie Delta and Central Mackenzie Valley regions, setting a Jan. 28 deadline for requests.The call was issued right on the heels of the Joint Review Panel report that gave solid backing to Mackenzie Gas Project plans to develop Mackenzie Delta gas reserves, seen by many as the essential first step toward opening a new energy basin.  The three-year delay in the JRP’s work has been blamed by many industry leaders for causing a virtual shutdown of northern exploration activity in recent years and only limited interest in securing exploration licenses in the region.    *       ADN by Sean Cockerham.  Gov. Sean Parnell is asking the Legislature to change Alaska’s oil tax laws so the companies won’t have to pay as much in taxes if they spend money to drill. It’s an incentive that could cost the state treasury hundreds of millions of dollars.    *     Peninsula Clarion.  The Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District, the Kenai Peninsula Tourism and Marketing Council and the Kenai chapter of the Alaska Industry Support Alliance will host an economic forum this week.  

The event kicks off with a session geared toward marketing for tourism related businesses on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, experts, officials, policy makers and industry movers and shakers, representing all sectors of the economy, will be on hand for presentations.  Given the current state of the economy, one might think there wouldn’t be much to discuss at an economic forum. But John Torgerson (NGP Photo), the Economic Development District’s executive director, has a different view. The theme for the forum is "Looking Forward to the Next Decade," and Torgerson said he has asked presenters to focus on their plans for the future, rather than rehashing what’s already happened.