SITKA, ALASKA
Sir Nigel Sheinwald, British ambassador to the United States, says there are lots of links between his country and the state of Alaska. (CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW.)

“There are British companies involved in your seafood industry, there are British companies involved in your tourist industry, in your cruise lines and so on,” he said. “But certainly, BP and Shell have been here for 50 years now, or more, and are major employers in the state. I think BP employs about 2,000 people in the state. So I’ll certainly be seeing both of those. I’ll be going up to the North Slope with BP. Another British-based international company, Anglo American, has an interest in a mining project also in Alaska.”

Anglo American is part of the Pebble Partnership, which is researching the possibility of mining in southwest Alaska, near Iliamna. The area is believed to have rich deposits of copper, gold, silver and molybdenum.

Opponents of the Pebble project say the open-pit mine and a proposed dam could destroy valuable habitat that supports commercial, sport and subsistence salmon fishing. Backers say they’ll protect fish streams and point to the jobs it could create — 2,000 during construction and 1,000 ongoing positions, according to the partnership’s website.

Sheinwald said he’s aware of the opposing views surrounding the project, as, he said, is the company.

“They’re very well aware of the objections that have been made, but they believe that they have an opportunity using the best science, using the best methods, using the best connections with the local communities to put a case forward which would at least minimize and take account of the risks which are involved. So that’s the issue,” he said. “They’ve got to have a chance to put that forward. As the ambassador of the country in which this country is headquartered, I don’t have a role in that procedure. That’s a matter for your regulators and your leaders here, and those no doubt in Washington as well.”

Sheinwald said all he would ask is that the company would have a chance to put its case forward. On Monday, Sheinwald traveled to Iliamna to see the project up close. The trip was sponsored by Anglo American.

“It didn’t change my impression fundamentally. It’s always incredibly useful to see the habitat, to see the situation on the ground, to see the expertise of the people involved. I met some of the local people as well,” Sheinwald said. “The ones I met, as it turned out, were people who were in favor of the project because they were very close to it physically and could see the employment opportunities. But I know there are different views elsewhere. I also met subsequently the president of the United Fishermen of Alaska.

“So I heard his point of view as well – someone who’s open to discussion about this but obviously has taken a position in opposition to the project as it’s been presented so far. So I’ve heard a range of views to try to deepen my understanding of it. The British government’s not a party to the project. All we want to ensure is that a British based company is given a chance to put a project forward in a rational and calm atmosphere.”

Sheinwald’s visit will include a trip to the North Slope on Thursday – BP and Shell both have headquarters in the UK – and meetings with Governor Sean Parnell, Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell, an address to the Alaska World Affairs Council and a private sightseeing visit on Saturday. He returns to Washington on Sunday.
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