Yellowknife (July 24/06) - The Joint Review Panel (JRP) has extended its public hearings for the Mackenzie Gas Project by almost four months.

Hearings were originally scheduled to conclude Dec. 15, in Inuvik. They'll now finish on April 12.

In March, proponents and intervenors were asked to identify the amount of time needed for presentations and questions, said Paula Pacholek, JRP manager.

Based on those responses, the panel has reassessed its own requirement to collect information and to hear the views of all the parties involved, she said.

"The changes in the hearings will allow the panel to collect more information," she said.

Imperial Oil, who is in charge of negotiations for the pipeline proponents had hoped the panel hearings would be finished by the original date which had been set, said spokesperson, Hart Searle.

"In general, we're surprised and disappointed by the (four) month extension to the Joint Review Panel hearings," said Searle.

"At this the juncture, the delay could have a detrimental impact on the cost and potential start up time of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline," said Searle.

While start-up times for the proposed pipeline could be delayed, Searle said it was too early to estimate new cost or construction schedule for what has previously been described as a $7 billion mega project.

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the NWT Chamber of Commerce have also joined with the petroleum giant in expressing their concern over the panel's decision to drag the process out longer. NWT Chamber president Sean MacGillivray called the move "intolerable."