Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Sep 17/99) - It was all smiles down in Inuvik last Friday, as the NWT Power Corporation became one of the first commercial customers of the Inuvik Gas Ltd. partnership.

The energy supplier joined with the Town of Inuvik and the Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation and its partners -- Alta Gas Service Incorporated and Enbridge Incorporated -- in ceremonies to mark the arrival of the first commercial natural gas deliveries from the Ikhil field, 50 kilometres northeast of Inuvik.

The ceremony included the start-up of two new natural gas-driven generators that will supply electricity to the town -- and attracted a host of dignitaries, from Power Corp management, workers and board members, to Inuvialuit, government and industry representatives.

"This project is a great example of what can be achieved when government, business and aboriginal groups work together," said Inuvik MLA Floyd Roland, who was on hand to turn a valve outside the Meter Transfer Station and open the flow of gas into the plant.

Board member Tom Zubko presided over the second ceremony that included a number of speeches and the start-up of the two Swedish-built generators. Speaking of the Inuvialuit, Zubko said the project was an example of how, "if you put us in charge of our own destiny, we can do things that are good for us."

Elaborating on this subject, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation president Nellie Cournoyea said that the biggest challenges to realizing the project was in gaining the confidence of the Inuvialuit people and in ensuring their role as active and meaningful participants.

"We welcome you," she told the congregation, "as long as you come as equal partners."

In a statement, Charles Dent, the minister responsible for the Power Corporation, said that over the minimum 15-year life of the project, it will save Inuvik power customers an estimated $20 million to $25 million. But Power Corp president and CEO Leon Courneya said these saving won't be seen by customers this year.

"There won't be any change in the near future for commercial or home-owners -- but there will be a rate review sometime in 2000," he said. "We have to negotiate how best to distribute the costs of the project and think about inflation and capital projects ... we'll sit down with the town in the next couple weeks."

But Inuvik Gas Ltd. CEO Lyle Neis did say customers converting to natural gas would see a 15 per cent cut in their heating bill -- relative to the cheaper cost of natural gas over oil.

All of this talk and activity attracted many, and on hand at the ceremonies were representatives of several major fuel companies.

"This is one small event, but it's part of a number of events that's renewing interest in the Delta," said Pierre Alvarez, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

And while Gulf doesn't currently have any active interests in the territory, Brian Plesuk, the company's community and aboriginal relations co-ordinator, said it's an exciting time in the North.

"This opening was an opportunity for producing companies to come back and show our interest," he said, "and we're showing our interest."