North of 60 Mining News - The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North

The Pebble Partnership and ASRC Energy Services, a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corp., June 13 said they will be working together to provide business development and mentoring services aimed at enhancing future contracting opportunities for Alaska Native village corporations with landholdings near the Pebble copper-gold project in Southwest Alaska.

"Local stakeholder involvement in responsible resource development projects is important, and ASRC Energy Services is a leader in stakeholder engagement," said ASRC Energy Services President and CEO Doug Smith. "Local stakeholders need a meaningful seat at the discussion table to ensure they receive the maximum benefit possible."

AES Regulatory and Technical Services, a business unit of ASRC Energy Services Alaska, Inc., will lead this collaborative business development planning initiative.

Drawing from its expertise in stakeholder engagement and providing contracting services, AES-RTS will work with Alaska Native village corporations who have had past contract relationships with the Pebble Partnership.

The goal of the engagement is to inform an Alaska Native contracting strategy for Pebble - one that establishes complementary contracting roles for participating village corporations, and directs strategic business development investments to enhance local companies' capabilities to fulfill Pebble's future contracting needs.

"As we gear up for our 2017 field season and prepare to take the Pebble project into federal and state permitting, we are also renewing our commitment to maximize contract and employment opportunities for local companies and local people," said Pebble Partnership CEO Tom Collier. "We know very well the challenging economic circumstances that confront Alaska Native village corporations and their shareholders in Southwest Alaska, and we are making investments now to ensure they will benefit to the greatest extent possible at each stage of the Pebble project's development - during permitting, construction, operations and even closure."

ASRC Energy Services was selected to lead Pebble's business development initiative based on its experience working with Alaska Native village corporations to optimize business opportunities associated with resource development on the North Slope.

ASRC, which employs some 12,000 people worldwide and nearly 4,000 in Alaska, has a long history of supporting responsible resource development in the state.

-SHANE LASLEY