Moricetown Indian Band joins First Nations Limited Partnership

Pacific Trail Pipeline first to sign agreement with all First Nations on proposed route

VANCOUVER, Jan. 23, 2015 /CNW/ - The First Nations Limited Partnership (FNLP) today announced that Moricetown Indian Band (Moricetown) has joined the FNLP. The FNLP is a commercial partnership that, with the addition of Moricetown, now includes all of the 16 First Nations whose traditional territory is located along the proposed 480 kilometre Pacific Trail Pipeline (PTP) route from Summit Lake to Kitimat, B.C.

"The decision of the Moricetown First Nation Band Council to join the First Nations Limited Partnership is one that we warmly welcome," said the Honourable Bob Rae, Chairman of FNLP. "It means all 16 First Nations along the proposed Pacific Trail Pipeline route are partners in a unique approach that combines environmental stewardship, extensive job, procurement, and other economic benefits, and direct financial transfers on a regular basis to each First Nations community."

The FNLP is without precedent in the Canadian energy industry and the Pacific Trail Pipeline is the only proposed natural gas pipeline for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in B.C. with such a benefits agreement. The proposed PTP and Kitimat LNG Facility projects are owned by Chevron and Apache through a 50/50 joint venture and are operated by Chevron.

"This agreement is unparalleled in balancing strong economic growth measures with preserving our cultural heritage and the environment.  There is, quite simply, no other deal that comes close to what we've been able to achieve in this partnership," said Chief Dan George of Ts'il Kaz Koh (Burns Lake). 

The commercial partnership ensures that FNLP Nations receive immediate and long-term benefits from the PTP project.  These include up to $550 million in direct financial benefits over the life of the PTP project, including a recent enhanced benefit of $10 million a year operating life of the PTP project from the Province of British Columbia. The FNLP Nations also receive substantial economic development, skills training, employment and contracting benefits from PTP under the terms of the agreement.

"Chevron Canada wishes to commend all parties for creating a partnership between industry and First Nations based on mutual respect, trust and economic self-determination. We welcome Moricetown as the 16th member of the FNLP, and look forward to building the Pacific Trail Pipeline with First Nations in a manner that places the highest priority on protecting people and the environment," said Jeff Lehrmann, President, Chevron Canada Limited.

Measures that reflect environmental protection, vitality of traditional cultural values, protection of aboriginal rights and title, economic self-determination and a sustainable future for First Nations are also part of the FNLP agreement.

Members of the FNLP have already received significant benefits to date from the agreement, including $17 million in financial payments.

"We have already seen over 1,600 First Nations members receive skills training through the PTP Aboriginal Skills to Employment Partnership, better known as PTP ASEP. Over 900 of these trainees have found jobs," said Chief Karen Ogen of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation.

First Nations employment currently accounts for 54 per cent of all early works construction workforce hours to date on the Pacific Trail Pipeline. To date, FNLP members have  also been awarded over $245 million in PTP construction contracts, and over 65 per cent of construction contract expenditures have been made to member First Nation businesses.

The agreement also facilitates joint ventures between FNLP and companies engaged in the PTP Project. As such, the FNLP Nations not only have a clear financial interest in the pipeline construction but, just as importantly, also have a strong voice in ensuring the preservation of environmental and cultural integrity.  

"The FNLP is an innovative model for how industry and First Nations can cooperate effectively with respect to major economic development projects," said the Honourable Bob Rae.

About First Nations (PTP) Group Limited Partnership (FNLP) 

The First Nations (PTP) Group Limited Partnership (FNLP) is a limited partnership of 16 First Nations whose traditional territories are located along the transportation corridor between Summit Lake and Kitimat, British Columbia.

FNLP was formed to secure significant, reliable and long-term economic benefits for its limited partners from the proposed PTP Project.

FNLP member Nations are:

• Haisla Nation
• Kitselas First Nation
• Lax Kw'alaams Band
• Lheidleh T'eneh First Nation
• McLeod Lake Indian Band
• Metlakatla First Nation
• Moricetown Indian Band
• Nadleh Whut'en First Nation
• Nak'azdli Band
• Nee Tahi Buhn Indian Band
• Saik'uz First Nation
• Skin Tyee First Nation
• Stellat'en First Nation
• Ts'il Kaz Koh First Nation (Burns Lake Indian Band)
• West Moberly First Nations
• Wet'suwet'en First Nation

About PTP and the Pacific Trail Pipelines Limited Partnership 

The proposed 480-kilometre Pacific Trail Pipeline Project is jointly owned by Chevron Canada Limited (Chevron) and Apache Canada Ltd. (Apache) through the Pacific Trail Pipelines Limited Partnership (PTPLP). The PTP is intended to deliver natural gas from Summit Lake B.C. to the proposed Kitimat LNG facility on B.C.'s north coast. The Pacific Trail Pipelines Limited Partnership (PTPLP) acquired the project in February 2011 from Pacific Northern Gas.

About Kitimat LNG 

The Kitimat LNG project comprises the proposed Kitimat LNG facility at Bish Cove near Kitimat, B.C, the Pacific Trail Pipeline, and approximately 644,000 acres of petroleum and natural gas rights in the Horn River and Liard Basins in British Columbia.

The proposed Kitimat LNG facility will be built on land leased under a unique benefit agreement with the Haisla Nation. The facility will include two liquefaction trains to cool the natural gas to a liquid state, LNG storage tanks and a marine jetty and berth to accommodate specialized LNG carriers. Kitimat LNG has a National Energy Board license to export up to 10 million tonnes of LNG per year.

About Chevron

Chevron Canada Limited is an indirect subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. Since 1938, Chevron Canada has been involved in exploring for, developing, producing and marketing crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in Canada. Chevron Canada is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. The company focuses its exploration and production activities in Atlantic Canada, Northern Canada, the Athabasca oil sands and unconventional resource plays in Western Canada. More information about Chevron Canada is available at www.chevron.ca.

About Apache^[1]

Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea, Australia and Argentina. Apache posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and copies of all press releases on its website, www.apachecorp.com.

^[1] In December 2014, Apache signalled its intention to sell its 50% interest in Kitimat LNG and Pacific Trail Pipeline to Woodside Petroleum Ltd, Australia's largest independent oil and gas company. Woodside will become a co-venture partner subject to the close of their transaction with Apache.  This is anticipated in Q1 2015.

SOURCE First Nations (PTP) Group Limited Partnership (FNLP)

For further information: First Nations (PTP) Group Limited Partnership: Alexandra Ballard, Communications Manager, [phone], [e-mail]; Chevron Canada: Gillian Robinson, Kitimat LNG, [phone], [e-mail]; Moricetown Indian Band: Trevor Jang, Communications Coordinator, 250-847-2133 (office), 250-631-7873 (cell), [e-mail]