K
I
T
I
M
A
T
Sentinel
Northern
www.northernsentinel.com
Volume 57 No. 34
Task force ferry feasability study Sean Glanville A feasibility study is now underway for a proposed ferry service based out of Kitimat. The proposed project would provide an inter-coastal ferry services from Kitimat to and from the remote villages of Hartley Bay, Klemtu and Bella Bella as destinations. A local task force has recently completed a feasibility study, which they have sent to various B.C. Ministries. Kitimat Mayor Joanne Monaghan mentions that the next step is bringing this proposal to the Ministries involved and getting their guidance. “We hope the government departments will be able to provide feedback on the proposed project as well as some funding,” said Monaghan. Monaghan feels access to ferry transportation would be a huge step forward for people living in the villages as it would put them in reach of necessary educational and employment opportunities along with basic amenities. “Ferry service would provide a means of reaching educational facilities in Kitimat and access to finding jobs in Kitimat as there is plenty of unemployment in the villages,” said Monaghan. Ferry service would also provide essential medical treatment and allow seafood to reach market quicker. “Service would also allow access to hospital and medical supplies for places such as Klemtu, Bella Bella and Hartley Bay and additionally supply food for their crustacean farms and getting the product to market quickly.” Monaghan mentions that the task force that produced the study was funded through the Northern Development Initiative Trust and the feasibility study which was completed last week suggests the ferry would run three days a week. At this stage, the main concern is getting the ferry service up and running and Monaghan mentions ideas such as incorporating industry or tourism are not a main concern at this point. “The service will have very little to do with tourism or industry at this stage. Perhaps down the road if the villages want to incorporate some type of cultural tourism that may work for them in the future,” explained Monaghan. Monaghan also notes as far as industry is concerned, the ferry service could perhaps provide transportation of workers and goods to projects in the area at some point.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
1.34 INCLUDES TAX
$
Thirteen billion dollar oil refinery proposed for the Kitimat Valley Shaun Thomas As Enbridge continues to move forward with its plans for a pipeline to ship oil through Kitimat to Asia, David Black - the owner and president of Black Press which owns newspapers throughout BC including the Kitimat Northern Sentinel - announced this morning plans to construct a $13 billion oil refinery in the Kitimat area. Black incorporated a company called Kitimat Clean Ltd., which plans to build a refinery 25 kilometres north of Kitimat and 25 kilometres south of Terrace large enough to process all of the capacity from the Northern Gateway pipeline prior to it being shipped through the Douglas Channel. The plant would process up to 550,000 barrels per day of dibit to be shipped back to Edmonton, 240,000 barrels per day of diesel, 100,000 barrels per day of gasoline and 50,000 barrels per day of kerosene. closing in the next few decades,” he said. With work on the Kitimat ModernizaThe product would then be shipped to a marine terminal site in Kitimat that is cur- tion winding down at about the same time rently planned to be used for the Enbridge as the construction of this project gets underway, Black says there could be a large crude oil shipping terminal. “The refinery will eliminate any labour force here in the northwest. “If all the projects chance of a crude move ahead, the temoil spill from ship... a company called porary construction ping through Kitimat. jobs could move into Gasoline, kerosene Kitimat Clean Ltd., full-time as people and diesel, which are which plans to build a move from one projthe products from the ect to another,” he refinery 25 kilometres refinery all float and said, noting the 2,100 are all evaporative,” north of Kitimat ... people at the modernexplained Black. ization camp would be “We want it to be available for this or the the cleanest and the greenest operating refinery in the world...Because Canada has proposed LNG plants move ahead. “I don’t see Kitimat as a Fort McMursuch stringent environmental regulations, ray. When kids need work they zip up to it will likely be the cleanest refinery built Fort McMurray and then back, whereas in the world in the next 20 years.” According to Black, processing the I can see people looking at Kitimat as oil before it is shipped out will remove the a place they could move to and make a threat of offshore pollution from heavy home.” So far, prior to the submission of the cruise due to the evaporative properties of environmental assessment application earkerosene, gasoline and diesel. Construction plans call for ground- lier this morning, Kitimat Clean Ltd. has breaking in 2014, with the facility com- spoken to the different levels of governplete in 2020. During the five year con- ment about the project, have reviewed the struction period, an estimated 6,000 project with investment bankers and been workers would be needed, while another told the revenues and profits are enough 3,000 permanent jobs would be created to enable equity and debt financing, have during operation, with half of those being discussed the plans with Enbridge and other oil sands producers and brought provided through private contractors. “I really believe all of these jobs are on-board a refinery consultant. However, needed for the next generation and for the $13 billion for the construction of the those in communities where mills may be project has not been confirmed.
“The money for the environmental assessment has been put up. It will take about two years for the assessment, and while we’re doing that we’ll be talking to industry and customers in Asia and getting the rest of the financing in place,” said Black, noting that not all of the partners in the Northern Gateway project are in favour of a refinery as opposed to shipping the oil. “If there is no Enbridge pipeline there is no refinery. And if we don’t believe the pipeline can be built in a way that ensures any leaks will be immaterial then it shouldn’t be built.” However serious discussions with the Haisla and the Kitselas, on whose traditional territories the terminal and refinery would be located respectively, have not taken place. Art Sterritt of the Coastal First Nations, however, says more work needs to be done with other groups along the shipping line. “The air pollution and impact from this refinery will have the same impact on the area, and removing the problem for the Skeena and the Nass is not solving half of the problem...You’re going to be polluting that area even more so,” said Art Sterrit of the Coastal First Nations. “If you’re serious about doing business in the north, you need to be out there talking to the First Nations in the region.” Black also said the refinery would help address concerns from the province about an economic benefit to BC from the pipeline.
PM477761
Response to $13 billion refinery...page 3