Enbridge has had its challenges garnering support from First Nations affected by the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, so other companies are learning from it.
Pacific Future Energy Corp. has designs to build what it calls the world’s greenest refinery on British Columbia’s coast. The company’s Executive Chairman, Samer Salameh says “our pre-feasibility study has begun, which will analyze the economic, social and environmental aspects of the refinery and help to determine the prospective site and expect to launch our feasibility and regulatory process in the next 9-12 months.”
That time will include meetings First Nations. “From the very beginning, and every step of the way, our partnership with First Nations will ensure that we all benefit … while respecting their rights to full consultation and accommodation,” added Pacific Future Energy’s VP Jeffrey Copenace.
That might not be enough to get support from indigenous people for the $10-billion dollar refinery.
At least that’s how The Executive Director of Coastal First Nations, Art Sterritt sees it, “they’re all trying to build themselves on the backs of how bad Northern Gateway has done things, and they figure if they are a little bit better that somehow people are going to fall all over themselves.”
The Coastal First Nations, is a coalition against Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline.
(Source: The First Perspective)
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