JUNEAU — Eni Petroleum will invest $1.4 billion to develop its Nikaitchuq oil field on the North Slope, with drilling beginning this year. The project was outlined this week by Kevin Banks, acting director of the state’s Division of Oil and Gas, at a presentation hosted by the five-member Republican Senate minority.
The project includes 31 production wells, a 3.8-mile subsea pipeline, and separate processing facilities, according to Banks. The state agreed earlier this month to lower its royalty rates under certain conditions as an incentive for investment.
Senate Minority Leader Gene Therriault of North Pole touted the company’s investment as evidence that the recent increase in the state’s oil production tax hasn’t made Alaska too expensive for companies looking to invest.
Compassionate gift bill moves ahead
Lawmakers are taking quick action to enable a legislative staff member to donate a kidney to Rep. Richard Foster of Nome, who is suffering from kidney disease. Ethics legislation approved last year limited the gifts lawmakers could receive. One provision dealt specifically with “compassionate gifts,” but only allowed gifts up to $250.
Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole, introduced a bill at the start of the session that would eliminate the limit and allow someone to donate a kidney to Foster.
The bill, HB 317, moved out of the House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday, was waived from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, and is scheduled for a floor vote today.
Harris backs right to bear arms
A resolution sponsored by House Speaker John Harris, R-Valdez, supporting the individual right to keep and bear arms moved out of the House Resources Committee on Monday. The resolution would urge the administration to file a friend of the court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Parker v. District of Columbia.
A similar resolutions in the Senate, sponsored by Senate President Lyda Green, R-Wasilla, moved out of the Senate Resources Committee on Wednesday.
The resolutions are HCR 15 and SCR 13.
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