CBC.  The Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline faces a key decision this week as the National Energy Board is expected to say whether it approves the proposed project.  The board, which regulates parts of Canada's energy sector, is expected to release its decision sometime this week on whether the $16.2-billion pipeline being proposed in the Northwest Territories would be in the interests of all Canadians. ... "Certainly we'll be looking for a favourable decision on the pipeline," said Fred Carmichael (NGP Photo) of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, which represents three N.W.T. aboriginal [...]

Comment:  Successfully confronting an economic abyss facing Alaska requires that the oil and gas industry find more throughput for the Trans Alaska Pipeline and create a new gas pipeline.  The Federal Government is doing everything possible to deny opportunity on Federal lands for oil and gas exploration and development.  A gasline will not solve Alaska's economic problems but it will ameloriate many of the economic challenges. 'Binding agreements' between a gas pipeline and shippers are critical to financing and approval of an Alaska gas project.  Solidifying binding agreements will no [...]

Governor Sean Parnell's Webpage (NGP Photo): For years, Alaskans have hoped for a gasline – today it is within reach. It is OUR place in history to have had not one, but two successful open seasons. And, it will be our place in history to seize the moment and get a gasline.

Comment: Alaskans know that for their economy to survive the annually declining throughput of the Trans Alaska oil Pipeline, new oil discoveries are essential.  The most prospective origin of new supply is ANWR, NPR-A and Arctic OCS.  The Obama Administration is rumored to  be considering a final death blow to ANWR's potential.  It can be done via extension of wilderness status to the part of ANWR reserved by Congress for Oil and Gas exploration and production.  The Obama Administration is taking steps to disallow exploration and production in the National [...]

ADN by Erika Bolstad.  WASHINGTON -- The presidential commission that's looking at the Gulf of Mexico oil spill zeroed in Thursday on the future of oil and gas exploration in the Arctic, and specifically on how to address possible spills. Yesterday, BLM Director Robert Abbey (NGP Photo) addressed members of the Resource Development Council for Alaska (See RDC Video).

  UNALASKA, AK (KUCB) - The last of the active North Aleutian basin natural leases have been dropped. Hewitt Mineral Corporation let go its four leases in October, two years after Shell relinquished the 33 leases it possessed.  Hewitt's leases covered over 22,000 acres on the Alaska Peninsula. The company had hoped to develop a liquefied natural gas plant on the peninsula as well as a pipeline. But a number of challenges have caused Hewitt to release its stake, says company president William Dolman.  "Shell released theirs a couple of years ago, and [...]