MINING EXTRA: Politicians push power line

May 10, 2008

NICKEL MINER Ed Beswick makes his case for a power line to run up Hwy37 North in speaking to delegates at the North Central Municipal Association convention in Prince George this week.

PHOTO COURTESY PRINCE GEORGE FREE PRESS

By BILL PHILLIPS

One might think it would be a slam dunk. But a word of caution was urged as northern politicians expressed support for the electrification of Highway 37 North.

“We need to have a little bit more information, we need to slow down the process,” Kitimat-Stikine regional district director Harry Nyce told delegates at the North Central Municipalities Association (NCMA) convention in Prince George May 8.

Smithers Mayor Jim Davidson brought forward a motion that the NCMA and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities lobby Victoria and the B.C. Transmission Corporation, “urging the continuance of the proposed environmental programs and projects, with a focus on the Northwest Transmission Line, namely the Terrace to Bob Quinn portion."

“Government is at a dead stop right now,” Davidson said.

Victoria had committed to a partnership with NovaGold Resources to build the line, but halted its plans when the company halted construction of the Galore Creek copper mine late last year when costs had more than doubled to nearly $5 billion. About 800 people were working on the construction of the mine at the time.

There has been a concerted effort since then for Victoria to continue preparation work on the line in anticipation of NovaGold resuming construction. Mining Association of B.C. officials were handing out ‘Power 37’ hats at the NCMA convention.

Nyce, also a key official with the Nisga'a Lisims Government, who was the lone voice urging a slowdown of the process, said he is not opposed to the powerline, just that more information is needed.

Delegates overwhelmingly voted in favour of the motion.

The Northwest Power Line Coalition, which includes the Northern Development Initiative Trust with its 40 member communities, the Mining Association of British Columbia, the Association of Mineral Exploration of British Columbia, and a number of Tahltan-owned businesses, mining companies, independent power producers, local businesses — including engineering firms and equipment suppliers — and concerned citizens applauded passage of the resolution.

Ed Beswick, of Hard Creek Nickel, said the power line would be very beneficial to its project, a proposed nickel mine about 70 kilometres east of Dease Lake.

“A power line to Dease Lake is critical to us,” he said, although added the company is looking at other power options.

Beswick said the Hard Creek Nickel deposit is likely one of the largest nickel/sulphide deposits in the world. The company hopes to enter the environmental assessment process in the near future.

“It is the largest exploration project in the Northwest,” he said.

Premier Gordon Campbell told delegates May 9 afternoon that the province is poised to support the powerline project.

“All we’re waiting for is a private sector partner and a couple of customers so we can get on with it,” he said.

(Bill Phillips is the editor of The Prince George Free Press in Prince George. Posted May 10 at 6 a.m.)

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MINING EXTRA: Politicians push power line

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