Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Coppermine (Apr 01/02) - The hamlet's economic development officer wants the Nunavut government to help the community take advantage of a diamond and metals exploration boom in the area.

"We are calling for some more infrastructure to attract companies to base logistics out of here," says Alex Buchan.

The Nunavut government, he suggests, should order bulk fuel for the community and help build a new hangar at the airport to entice exploration companies to Kugluktuk.

So far the government has rebuffed a request for bulk fuel because it wants exact user numbers. The Kugluktuk business community is considering placing its own order.

Buchan says exploration companies are always watching the bottom line, and the temptation of fuel caches so close to camps will be too great to pass up.

"I don't think there is very much doubt that if the fuel is here the companies will buy it," said Buchan.

The hangar is another matter -- the community airport doesn't have one.

Not only would a hangar allow companies to keep helicopters that need repairs near the camps but it might also be enough to convince a rival carrier to set up in the community and compete with First Air, said Buchan.

The community also has three airport vehicles that are parked outside.

Phil Bourdeau, executive assistant for Nunavut Transportation Minister Manitok Thompson, says he hadn't heard anything about a hangar. He adds that other bureaucrats might be dealing with such a request, but many were busy with the Arctic Winter Games.

The closest exploration camp to Kugluktuk, Trilogy's platinum project, is about 60 kilometres to the southeast.

A massive diamond staking rush recently subsided in the region and Buchan says now is the time to cash in.

"There will be a lot of companies that come out with nothing and let their land lapse," he says. "There will be fewer companies doing more extensive exploration that requires more fuel and the more people."