North Coast Review: Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings

Showing posts with label Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings. Show all posts

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Industrial Development 2015 -- Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Destination Prince Rupert? As Northern Gateway stalls, Eagle Spirit Energy proposal is reintroduced

While the District of Kitimat works to decide what to do with their results of Saturday nights plebiscite (and mend relations in the now divided community) those with an alternate vision for energy development in the Northwest are seizing the moment to put forward their plans.

Saturday nights results provided both David Black of Kitimat Clean fame and Eagle Spirit Energy Holding proponents of an energy pipeline and shipment terminal to once again put forward their proposals, though with little in the way of background material for now.

Mr. Black, the publishing baron behind the string of weekly newspapers in the region, heralded the vote in Kitimat as a positive thing for his plan for an oil refinery in the community. There hasn't been much heard about that project in recent months; other than the occasional mention of it by Mr. Black, usually in one of his papers.

Terrace Standard-- Ship crude by sea? Dangerous nonsense
Victoria Times Colonist-- Kitimat refinery would benefit environment, David Black says
CKNW-- Businessman behind proposed Kitimat oil refinery welcomes pipeline referendum result

You can review our archive items on the proposal here.

Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings also took advantage of the interest in the plebiscite to return to the media spotlight on Monday morning, reviewing some of their talking points on their proposal , which would be First Nations led with support from Vancouver's Aquilini family.

Among their main points to take to the media of Monday:

Eagle Spirit Energy's proposal: The Eagle Spirit Energy proposal would involve a state-of-the-art pipeline connected to an upgrader in Northern Alberta or North Eastern B.C.;

Represents a commitment to minimize any impacts on the coastal and inland waters, wildlife, and neighboring communities;

Under Eagle Spirit Energy's proposal, the pipeline would transport synthetic crude rather than bitumen. Synthetic crude oil is an amber coloured product and one of the lighter forms of crude oil; and

Collectively, this project would provide investment, training and employment, business and contracting opportunities, and resource revenue sharing opportunities in Northern British Columbia where communities are largely dependent upon the environmentally responsible development of natural resources.

Like the Kitimat Clean proposal, key to the Eagle Spirit option would be the construction of an oil shipment terminal.

With the upgrader aspect of the refining process in Northeastern BC or Northwest Alberta, a feature of their plan that would take out the seemingly toxic discussion point of raw bitumen shipments, something that has so haunted Enbridge through their process.

We first made mention of their interest in the energy sector and in the region back in October with this item, which included a number of links to some reviews of their background and future plans.

Monday's press conference from Eagle Spirit officials clearly served its purpose, judging by the many articles in the media of Monday.

National Post-- First Nations propose Northern Gateway pipeline alternative following plebiscite setback
CBC-- Eagle Spirit pipeline proposal faces First Nations opposition
Global Post-- Canucks owners join aboriginal businessman to pitch their own pipeline for BC
Business in Vancouver-- First Nations, Aquilinis propose Enbridge alternative
Vancouver Province-- Aquilini Group's pipeline project gains support as First Nations group abandon Northern Gateway camp
Globe and Mail-- Rival pipeline proponent touts First Nations support in wake of Kitimat vote

The last item from the Globe offers up some interesting notes for the North Coast with Mark Hume outlining that the Eagle Spirit project would be routed to Prince Rupert, making the North Coast the new topic for discussion we imagine for the next round of oil shipments from British Columbia.

Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings appears to be holding their plans fairly close to this point, not providing much background on where they might place any terminal, nor what route the pipeline they are proposing may travel, or whether there has been any opposition made to their plans from communities across Northern British Columbia.

One thing seems fairly certain however, from their comments it appears that they won't be making a shipment point in the Kitimat region. Leaving us to grab a map and try to figure out our own routes between Alberta and the Northwest coast of British Columbia.

Considering the links to Lax Kw'alaams through Mr. Helin, one would have to think that Grassy Point north of Prince Rupert, may one day factor into one of their proposed locations.

With the the Eagle Spirit proposal back in the spotlight, we will be adding a page to the blog, in our archive of Industrial Development. From there we will continue to follow the project as more of it is made available.

You can find that archive page here. It's permanent placement will be on our Industrial Archive page

Industrial Development 2014-- Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings

Our Archive of items on the proposals being put forward for pipeline and oil refinery development by Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings, possibly to include a refinery and shipment terminal in Prince Rupert.

2014

May

May 28-- No open door to oil for Lax Kw'alaams NCR
May 23-- Calvin Helin reviews his Eagle Spirit Energy project for VICE NCR
May 21-- This First Nation-Backed Pipeline is a Sensible Alternative to Enbridge's Northern Gateway
May 9-- Oil is coming so let's do it right says Helin of pipeline proposal
May 6-- Eagle Spirit Energy's President Says Company respects Haida Nations Rejection to Oil Project
May 2-- Haida Nation rejects Eagle Spirit Energy Oil project

April

April 23-- Eagle Spirit Energy proposes crude oil pipeline for the North Coast
April 16-- Pipeline Proposal Raises More Questions Than Answers
April 15-- Eagle Spirit pipeline proposal faces First Nations opposition
April 15-- First Nations/Aquilini pipeline plan gets lukewarm response from oil opponents
April 15-- Destination Prince Rupert? As Northern Gateway stalls, Eagle Spirit Energy proposal is reintroduced. NCR
April 14-- Northern Gateway setback could mean opportunity for aboriginal energy proposal
April 14-- Burns Lake First Nation band pulls Northern Gateway pipeline Support
April 14-- First Nations, Aquilinis propose Enbridge alternative
April 14-- Canucks owners, aboriginal businessmen pitch alternative pipeline
April 14-- Rival pipeline proponent touts First Nations stupport in wake of Kitimat vote

2013

October 7-- An Oil refinery for Grassy Point? NCR

Monday, October 7, 2013

An Oil refinery play for Grassy Point?

There is some interesting reading to be found these days on the future prospects for development of the Grassy Point region north of Prince Rupert.

That stretch of land has already been identified as a possible location for the percolating LNG industry in the region. Though up until now, most of the discussion of Grassy Point has been that of the LNG terminal variety.

However, it now seems that for some proponents of development in that area, there has been mention of the possibility of oil shipments from that region and what a mention it is.

According to an article in a publication called the Western Canada Native News, a proposal for not just an oil terminal, but an oil refinery, is being suggested for the region.

The review of the oil refinery mention comes from Damien Gillis, who recently spoke in Prince Rupert regarding developments in the LNG industry of the region.

In the articles above, Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings, has been identified as apparently one of the key participants in the proposal, a group that seemingly has some interest in the Grassy Bay region.

Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings, was formed one year ago, with Calvin Helin, a member of the Lax Kw'alaams First Nation named as Chairman and President.

The company has significant backing behind it, with Dave Tuccaro one of Canada's top Aboriginal Businessmen on the board, along with the participation of British Columbia's Aquilini investment group (yes, those Aquilini's, owners of the Vancouver Canucks).

The profile of the new group has been on the rise since that September 2012 start up, with a fair amount of attention directed to the launch of the company.

Northern View-- Aboriginal energy corridor across BC proposed as Aboriginal-owned energy company formed
CFTK-- First Nations group formed to create energy corridor
Globe and Mail-- First Nations carving out an energy bridge to the B. C. coast
Up Here-- The $100,000,000 man

The Eagle Spirit Group has been fairly active in seeking a higher profile role for British Columbia's First Nations in the development and transportation of resources in the province, so their mention as possibly part of this oil refinery proposal is certainly something to make note of.

As we outlined on the blog last month, the speculation that Prince Rupert may one day be a shipment point for Alberta oil gained a bit of interest with word that CNOCC the Chinese national oil company was investigating the idea of an oil by rail project. An answer perhaps to their quest of shipping raw bitumen from Alberta to Chinese refineries, by way of a shipment terminal in the Prince Rupert region.

The Chinese energy giant has previously expressed their interest in staking out a space in the Grassy Point region for their own LNG development, so one imagines that considering their holdings in the oil industry as well, the thought of a shipment terminal has probably been discussed somewhere.

Mention of an oil refinery for the region, is new to the discussion however and it will be interesting to learn more about any proposal in that regard and what interest, if any that Eagle Spirit may have in it.

Worth watching as well, will be the reaction and impressions of the many opponents to any kind of oil shipments from the North Coast and this latest thought that Grassy Bay, may soon be some form of new energy hub for Western Canada.

Other media reviews of the Gassy Bay prospects can be found below:

The Tyee-- First Nations energy company floats oil refinery near Prince Rupert