INUVIK - Members of the Mackenzie Gas Project have been busy preparing updated information about the pipeline.

Roy Wilson and Grace Blake made a presentation to Town Council last week about the project.

Mackenzie Gas Project Gwich'in community liaison Grace Blake points to the area near Inuvik where a construction camp will be built. Blake recently made a presentation to Town Council outlining the project. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

"We outlined the details of our priorities and brought in artist drawings of what the facilities could look like," said Wilson.

Wilson pointed to a wall covered in posters, each depicting a different facility.

He explained the planned route for the pipeline, if the project gets approval from the regulatory hearings.

The regulatory hearings have been taking place over the last year in Inuvik and have also been across the Territory.

Spokesman for Imperial Oil Pius Rolheiser said there are currently four areas of importance to the proponents of the project.

"Right now we are continuing the regulatory process with public hearings in Edmonton a week from now," said Rolheiser

"That has been some significant work."

Rolheiser said Imperial Oil has many people attending the public hearings, hosted by both the National Energy Board and Joint Review Panel.

"Those hearings are a key work component for us," he said.

Working on securing access and benefit agreements is in varying stages for different aboriginal groups along the Mackenzie Valley.

The Gwich'in band has signed and ratified an agreement.

The Inuvialuit people have an agreement in principle, but there is still work to be done before both groups will sign it, said Rolheiser.

The Kahsho Got'ine people have stated that they need more information before ratifying an agreement.

"We are working closely with them to work it out," said Rolheiser.

The south Sahtu people have also signed and ratified an agreement with Imperial Oil.

The people of the Deh Cho region are still meeting with Imperial Oil to work towards an agreement.

Rolheiser said the group is also looking at a significant re-examination of the project costs and schedule of construction.

"We are looking at every aspect of costs, how to manage the upwards cost pressures," he said.

"Steel, fuel and labour have all been affected by increasing costs."

Imperial Oil plans on releasing an updated file to the regulatory boards in March, outlining the updated costs for the project.

Rolheiser said Imperial Oil is also in dialogue with both the federal and territorial governments.

"We are looking at fiscal forecasts, royalties, taxes, it's significant work," said Rolheiser.

Even though the project has been delayed, Rolheiser re-affirmed the company's dedication to the proposed pipeline.

"We remain committed," he said. "We recognized six years ago that this would be a tremendously complex project.

"Putting the pipeline into the ground would be the easiest part of all this."

Imperial Oil is expecting a regulatory decision in 2008.