Astisiy Partnership

Astisiy Community Partnership

Suncor and Eight Indigenous Communities form Partnership in the RMWB.

For several years, our community has been working with Suncor to explore creative ways to become involved in energy development, similar to the East Tank Farm (ETF) investment by Fort McKay FN and Mikisew Cree FN.


We are pleased to announce that we have come to an agreement to become partners in an existing oil sands asset in the Wood Buffalo Region with Suncor and seven other indigenous communities.


We will be part owners of the Northern Courier Pipeline (NCP), which connects Fort Hills to the ETF.


This means we will:


  • Receive stable revenue for an initial 21-year term with a possibility to extend for the life of the asset.
  • Be part of a business partnership with Suncor and other communities in the region.
  • Receive business revenue that we can use to provide community services at our own discretion. The purchase of our share of pipeline is via a loan guaranteed by the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation.
  • We have signed a long-term relationship framework agreement.
  • Suncor will operate the asset. They have many years of experience operating these types of assets.
  • We take ownership of the assets in December 2021, and this partnership will be announced in September 2021.


  • How do we pay for or finance this opportunity?
    • We have engaged TD Bank to help obtain financing for the investment.
    • The financing is guaranteed (like a backstop) by the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation. 
    • The revenue generated by the asset will pay back the financing automatically pursuant to a schedule (like union dues coming off your personal paycheck), and payments will come off the business revenue.

  • What is the NCP pipeline and related assets?

    It consists of a few things:

    • A 90 kilometre, 24” diameter bitumen pipeline that achieved commercial in-service in November 2017. The pipeline transports heated bitumen or diluted bitumen between the Fort Hills mine site and Suncor’s East Tank Farm.
    • A 90 kilometre, 12” diameter diluent pipeline that runs parallel to the bitumen pipeline, carrying diluents such as condensate, diesel and synthetic crude oil from ETF to Fort Hills.
    • Tank terminals that include bitumen, diluent and diesel tanks, and all associated pumps, meter stations and yard piping. The pipeline tank farm at the northern end comprises:

    Two 300,000 barrel bitumen storage tanks;

    One 150,000 barrel diluent storage tank; and

    One 50,000 barrel diesel tank.


  • How will we benefit from our ownership of the pipeline?
    • Pipelines, like utilities, typically offer investors stable and consistent income, coupled with less price volatility compared to the stock market. These assets are generally not affected by volatile crude oil or natural gas prices.   
    • Pipeline transportation costs are paid for by the customers regardless of use.
    • Revenue will be generated from the long-term transportation and terminal services agreements from the Fort Hills partnership and will flow to the owners, including our community.