Eagle Spirit Energy proposes crude oil pipeline for the North Coast – PR Northern View

Apr 23, 2014

As Enbridge Northern Gateway continues to struggle to gain social licence in the Northwest, Eagle Spirit Energy president and CEO Calvin Helin has proposed an alternate oil pipeline to carry crude to the coast.

The project would see a refinery built to turn bitumen into synthetic crude oil, with Helin saying First Nations have “unequivocally told us they don’t want bitumen being shipped either through the provincial waters”. Helin declined to name locations being considered for a terminus port, only saying feedback was it shouldn’t be in Kitimat, but a meeting in Lax Kw’alaams last October pointed to Eagle Spirit pursuing a refinery at Grassy Point.

While discussions are very preliminary, Helin said the project hinges entirely on First Nations.

“This is going to be a First Nations-led initiative,” he said.

“We’re going to do whatever it takes, but if First Nations aren’t for this then we won’t do it,” he said.

Helin said the company gathered feedback from First Nations communities for more than a year to learn how to earn a social licence for its proposal, announcing April 14 it had signed a “substantial number” of non-disclosure agreements with northern bands to explore alternate solutions to the Northern Gateway project. Eagle Spirit Energy and the Aquilini Group, partners in the project, claim the idea is backed by many First Nations, even some opposed to Northern Gateway.

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