Fort Simpson (Sep 22/03) - Oil and gas giant Anadarko is looking to invest $200 million in the Deh Cho region over the next five to six years.

The various chiefs and stakeholders in the region are currently deciding how they would like to proceed.

Anadarko held a meeting Sept. 4 in Fort Simpson with chiefs and stakeholders from the area to explain the plan.

The idea behind the meeting was for chiefs and their advisors to get the same information at the same time, so they could take the information back to their communities, said Nadine Barber, director of communications with Anadarko.

Anadarko is looking at a proposed gas-gathering system and many different options for routing where the system may go.

The entire system would service wells Anadarko plans to drill.

So far, Anadarko has started drilling two wells in the region which will be completed this winter. The company also plans to drill two new holes this season.

The next step in the consultation, says Barber, is for the communities involved to start looking at the opportunities and start looking at what they can provide.

"That may include joint ventures. A lot has to be determined, this is a real raw proposal," said Barber.

Anadarko is very flexible on the proposal, said Barber, adding, "we're not dependent on the big pipe."

Anadarko talked about the proposed project with the three potentially impacted communities: Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake.

Additionally impacted communities downstream may also include Fort Simpson-Metis and Wrigley.

LKFN says look for

KFN KaDulee

Any pipeline work that might be coming is expected to be run by KFN KaDulee, said Chief Keyna Norwegian of the Liidlii Kue First Nation (LKFN) from Fort Simpson.

"It's a group that's been formed and we've tried to get the five communities together and we're bidding on contracts that might happen before the (Mackenzie Valley) pipeline comes through," she said.

Norwegian is hopeful the communities within the area can come together in landing contracts.

Fort Smith

working on strategy

Fort Smith Mayor Tom Wilson said his administration is working with the LKFN and the Metis, trying to work up a common oil and gas strategy -- working for benefits for the community as a whole.

"I look at the villages as being able to provide the infrastructure for companies to come to town," she said.

"It's nothing we can sit upon and wait for because we want to make sure local companies can take advantage of any business opportunities they can get involved with," said Wilson.

"The tri-council of the village, the band and the Metis, gives us a chance to get together and go over common things in the community, and all working for the betterment of the whole community."