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INUVIK
The giant green tank on Veterans' Way isn't moving very far, but the process of transporting it is long and involved.

The one remaining tank at the tank farm is being moved so it can be brought up to code. It's expected to be used for fuel storage starting in September and weighs more than one million kilograms when full. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

It will take 200 jacks to move the fuel tank a little more than 33 metres away from its present location on the Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) property.

Dowland Contracting is in charge of the $1.6-million project, which is expected to be completed by the third week of September.

The tank needs to be repositioned to meet new federal regulations and standards, said NTPC communications manager Bob Kelly.

The tank currently is only able to hold 50 per cent of 9.5 million-litre capacity.

Federal regulation require that the berm and liner around the tank have to be able to absorb 110 per cent of the tank's carrying capacity.

"In the unlikely scenario that it were to spill, it has to be completely contained," said Kelly.

Work started on the project June 1, and as of press time, the new berm for the base of the tank was being built and more than 60 support cables for the inside of the tank were being welded to the top.

At almost 31 metres in diameter and more than 12 metres tall, the tank weighs more than 200,000 kilograms when empty and one million when full.

"We have to have it in place for when the barges bring fuel up," said Kelly.

"And we have to get the barges up before freeze up."

Brigitte Weil lives in an apartment near the construction, with a window overlooking the site.

Construction noise doesn't start before 8 a.m., but nonetheless she's eager for it to be over.

"There are some days I just want to sleep in," she said. "Like, for example, the other day I was sick and just wanted to lie in bed all day but I couldn't sleep because of all the noise."

Once the new berm is built and the liner replaced, the tank will be raised up on the jacks and moved at approximately 15 centimetres per hour.

Weil said it can't happen fast enough.

"I know it takes time to do things right but I want to sleep in without having to close my window, especially now when it's hot out," she said.

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