Regulators seek public comments on extension of MGP sunset clauses

The National Energy Board (NEB) and the Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations will co-ordinate their review of the requests from Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited (IORVL) to extend to 31 December 2022 the sunset clauses included in the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) approvals.

NEB approved

The NEB approved the construction of the MGP, including the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline (MVP) and the Mackenzie Gathering System (MGS) on 16 December 2010. Included in the conditions for approval were sunset clauses, which required construction of the MVP and MGS to start by 31 December 2015.

The NEB and GNWT Chief Conservation Officer (CCO) have both directed an interim extension to the MGP sunset clauses to 30 September 2016 in order to provide more time to consider IORVL’s requests.

The two regulators will accept public comments on the requested extensions until 16 February 2016.

Quick facts

• The Mackenzie Gas Project is a proposal to develop three natural gas fields in and near the Mackenzie Delta, and to transport the natural gas and natural gas liquids to southern markets via a 1196 km natural gas pipeline system from Inuvik, NWT to northern Alberta.
• As a result of devolution in NWT on 1 April 2014, the GNWT Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations assumed responsibility for the regulation of onshore oil and gas activities in the NWT, outside of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, and as a result, now regulates a portion of the MGS. The CCO will make the decision on the application related to this portion, consistent with a pre-existing delegation from the GNWT Regulator.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/18112015/regulators-seek-public-comments-on-extension-of-mgp-sunset-clauses/