Natural gas was discovered in the Mackenzie Delta area in the 1970s. A Mackenzie Valley pipeline has been talked about for a long time. In the last few years, there has been renewed interest in a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. This is because several factors have changed:

• Market conditions favour a northern pipeline.
  
• Technology and construction methods have improved.
  
• Some aboriginal land claims have been settled.
  
• Support from interested northern parties for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline has increased.