FORM 6-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                        Report of Foreign Private Issuer

                      Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For the month of  January   , 1997

                        PRAIRIE PACIFIC ENERGY CORPORATION
                 (Translation of registrant's name into English)

       302, 1168 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6B 2S2  
                   (Address of principal executive offices)


       [Indicate  by check  mark  whether  the  registrant  files or will file
annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.]
                              Form 20-F X Form 40-F


         [Indicate  by check mark  whether  the  registrant  by  furnishing  the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission  pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934.]
                      Yes                   No   X


         [If "Yes" is marked,  indicate below the file number  assigned to the  
registrant in connection  with Rule 12g3-2(b):  82-    ]

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                       PRAIRIE PACIFIC ENERGY CORPORATION
                                       (Registrant)

Date     February 5, 1997           By  /s/  Malcolm F.W. Todd
    -----------------------           -------------------------------------
                                             Malcolm F.W. Todd, President
                                             (Signature)*

         *Print the name and title of the signing officer under his signature.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------




PRAIRIE PACIFIC     PRAIRIE PACIFIC          302, 1168 HAMILTON STREET
LOGO                ENERGY CORPORATION       VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
                         FOR IMMEDIATE       V6B 252
                         RELEASE             TELEPHONE: 604-684-2356
                                             FACSIMILE: 604-684-4265
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             PRAIRIE PACIFIC ENERGY CORPORATION ("Prairie Pacific")
                Listed: The Alberta Stock Exchange - Symbol: PRP
                    NASDAQ OTC Bulletin Board - Symbol: PRPEF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       Prairie Pacific Energy Corporation
        Files Draft Notice of Intention To Make A Normal Course Issuer Bid

Calgary  (January 10th,  1997) - Prairie Pacific Energy  Corporation  (ASE: PRP)
today filed with The Alberta Stock  Exchange a Draft Notice of Intention to make
a Normal Course Issuer Bid for up to 8 percent of the public float of its stock.

"Purchasing  shares at the prevailing  trading price,  relative to the value per
share  of the  discounted  worth  of  Prairie  Pacific's  oil and gas  reserves,
including  the  anticipated  value of its 10  percent  undivided  interest  in a
Brazeau,  Alberta new pool,  dual zone oil and natural gas  discovery,  together
with the value per share of its equity  holdings  in Inspan  Investment  Limited
which  also  has a 10  percent  undivided  interest  in the  Brazeau  discovery,
represents an attractive and appropriate  action," Prairie  Pacific's  President
Malcolm Todd said.

Prairie Pacific was successful in acquiring  428,470 common shares at an average
of $0.70 per share during the period  April 3, 1989 to September  30, 1996 under
previous Normal Course Issuer Bids.

If accepted by The Alberta Stock  Exchange,  Prairie  Pacific will commence with
the Bid to acquire up to 400,000  common  shares on February  1st, 1997 and will
continue until January 31st,  1998, or until the maximum number of shares sought
are  purchased.  This  amount  represents  6.6  percent of the total six million
shares issued and  outstanding  and 8 percent of the public float of 4.9 million
shares.

The purchase of any common shares through this Bid will be effected  through the
facilities of The Alberta Stock Exchange.  Prairie  Pacific's  shares also trade
through the facilities of NASDAQ OTC Bulletin Board in the United States.  There
will be no purchases  made  through the NASDAQ OTC Bulletin  Board in respect of
this Bid. Prairie Pacific expects to purchase shares as available at such prices
as  Prairie  Pacific  believes  practical  and in the best  interest  of Prairie
Pacific.

For further information, please contact:

                          Malcolm F. W. Todd, President
                               Tel: (604) 684-2356
                          Frank Dabbs, Public Relations
                               Tel: (403) 228-7779

         The Alberta Stock  Exchange has neither  approved nor  disapproved  the
information contained herein.