The National Energy Board has approved an application from NOVA Gas
Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) to construct and operate the Horn River
facilities, and to purchase and operate a portion of the existing Ekwan
Pipeline (the Ekwan Section). Together, the Horn River facilities and
the Ekwan Section comprise the Horn River Project (the Project).
The $307 million project would transport sweet natural gas from the
Horn River Basin in northeast British Columbia to NGTL's Alberta System
and provide customers direct access to the NOVA Inventory Transfer
(NIT) market.
The project consists of two primary components: NGTL's acquisition and
operation of the Ekwan Section and the construction and operation of
new pipeline and metering facilities. The new facilities include the
Cabin Section (72 km of new pipeline) and the Komie East Extension (2.2
km of new pipeline). Four new meter stations would also be constructed
and the existing Ekwan meter station would be modified.
The approval to proceed with the project includes 31 conditions
which NGTL must comply with during the construction and operation of
the project. Several of the conditions target the protection of the
boreal woodland caribou and caribou habitat, migratory birds and
wetlands in the project area.