Who should resolve CGL issue?
Headlines ran coast to coast on blockades that stranded 500 Coastal GasLink (CGL) workers at a workcamp, the clearance of the blockaded forest service road by RCMP, and the arrests of 14 protesters.
The federal government said talks with various parties are at a “critical junction.” And the spokesperson for a group of hereditary chiefs who oppose the pipeline called for more discussion with federal and provincial governments on Wet’suwet’en rights.
Both made us recall a message that our Alliance CEO, Karen Ogen-Toews, sent to parliamentarians in December 2020:
“You no doubt know that the elected council of the Wet’suwet’en supports the pipeline. And so do a majority of our people. But a small group of hereditary chiefs seeks to block the pipeline project. To me, this issue is one for the Wet’suwet’en people to resolve.”
That leave-it-to-the-people message was echoed last week, after the arrests, when Crystal Smith, elected chief councillor of the Haisla Nation, said in a public statement that her nation hopes for a peaceful resolution of the issues.
“This is not a statement of how another Nation should resolve their own internal issues; we have always said that is up to a Nation on its own.”
Smith (pictured above) went on to say: ‘The arrival of LNG projects has been transformational for the Haisla Nation. The stakeholders of these projects have, in our view, truly recognized First Nations as crucial participants to development. . . .
“Haisla Nation Council has supported the development of LNG projects for years, and any attempts to hold back these projects and their pipelines, holds our Nation back too.”
(Smith is also chair of our First Nations LNG Alliance.)
Woodfibre LNG: big step forward
Woodfibre LNG awarded its key Engineering, Procurement, Fabrication, and Construction (EPFC) contract to McDermott International of Houston TX.
And it gave some dates: “‘Pre-construction work will begin early next year in 2022 and will gradually ramp up in September 2023, when major construction begins. Construction will continue through to substantial completion in 2027.’ More: ow.ly/nUzr50GUqgj
- Did you know: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) is both a project partner and an environmental regulator for the Woodfibre LNG project: http://ow.ly/Fv4E50GUAUk
Progress at LNG Canada site
Contractors for LNG Canada last week put in place the main absorber column at the Kitimat site. At 54 metres long, and weighing more than 800 tonnes, it is the largest single piece of equipment at the site.
There are two videos about this key installation:
- From LNG Canada: http://ow.ly/FNel50GSCnZ
- From prime contractor JFJV Kitimat: http://ow.ly/jvyN50GSCoV
LNG: Big future after COP26
India, Africa, and a string of developing nations, made it clear after the COP26 conference on climate measures that they are increasingly turning to LNG to generate electricity, and as a ticket to better economies and standards of living.
Thomas Camara, Ivory Coast’s minister of mines, petroleum and energy: “For our African nations, we have to ensure that our populations have access to energy. We will not turn our back to oil and energy companies so we can ensure the happiness, and even the existence, of our populations.”
In India, as in Africa, millions of people still don’t have access to electricity. India, already the world’s fourth largest LNG importer, wants to raise the share of natural gas in its energy mix to 15% by 2030, from the current 6.2%.
As well, Asian demand for LNG is soaring again, and the rates for a spot charter of an LNG carrier ballooned last week to more than US$ US$316,000 — five times what it was a year ago.
Dale Nally, Alberta’s associate minister of natural gas and electricity, said it all means opportunity for Canada and its LNG.
“For regions without plentiful natural gas resources, the introduction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) presents a massive opportunity to lower GHG emissions. That is why many forecasts for global demand of LNG – including those by major consultancies like Wood Mackenzie, IHS Markit, and Rystad – continue to show demand increasing over the next two decades – especially in Asia.
“So it’s worth evaluating where in the world would be the best place to produce the LNG that will be used around the globe. The answer – from both an economic and environmental perspective – is clearly Canada.”
(You can read Nally’s full article here: http://ow.ly/OGpK50GMZiL)
ALSO IN THE NEWS
- Coastal GasLink construction resumes: http://ow.ly/v9iZ50GUUwO
- First Nations Climate Initiative and the Business Council of BC partner to advance BC ‘s low-carbon advantage and Indigenous economic opportunities: http://ow.ly/AMem50GV1a2
- Vaughn Palmer: BC may be moving too fast on natural-gas royalty overhaul: ly/S7iE50GO0Jj And BC begins review to restore revenue from natural-gas sales: ow.ly/Q0jZ50GN0WF
- Indian Resource Council wants to meet federal minister to press for ‘a modern mandate’ leading to Indigenous control over oil and gas on reserves: ly/NLG350GOQqR
- HaiSea Marine and LNG Canada invite members of the Haisla, Gitga’at, and Gitxaala communities to take part in a vessel-naming competition for HaiSea’s new tugs. Deadline for entries is Dec. 7: com
- Alliance director John Alan Jack took part in a panel on partnerships and equity ownership in major projects at #BCIROC21. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayHP60_WU1Q
- Pieridae Energy eyes a floating LNG plant to replace its stalled Goldboro plant in Nova Scotia: ly/NSm450GLS64
EVENTS
Registration is open for the two-day hybrid (in-person and online) conference of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, April 25-26, 2022. Early-bird tickets are available until Jan. 15. You can register here (free for Indigenous communities): ly/5OoP50GKXKA
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(Posted here 24 November 2021)
