Newsletter: A question of power for LNG Canada. And more stories.

Our newsletter: 19 January 2023

LNG Canada has been working for many months towards a final investment decision on Phase 2 of the project, which would double the output of LNG for export.

A key question throughout has been whether Phase 2 could use emissions-reducing electricity from BC Hydro to drive the cooling towers that chill natural gas into LNG.

Now LNG Canada says it would have to, at least initially, use natural-gas-powered turbines for Phase 2 (as it will for Phase 1), rather than electric drives.

CEO Jason Klein says: “We can’t do an immediate and wholesale electrification of the plant and the pipeline. It’s not possible today because the transmission infrastructure just isn’t there.”

LNG Canada is discussing with both governments and BC Hydro when new hydro lines may be in place. Hundreds of kilometers of new transmission lines are needed.

As noted by Ellis Ross, BC MLA and longtime LNG champion, this raises the question of whether the BC government would approve Phase 2 with gas turbines.

“Woodfibre LNG is approved. Cedar LNG will be approved. Might as well approve Phase 2 for LNG Canada.” (Woodfibre plans electric drive. So does Cedar LNG, a project led by the Haisla Nation.)

More from Jason Klein: http://ow.ly/HzUk50MszKW

  • Meanwhile, Coastal GasLink looks to its gas-pipeline to LNG Canada to reach the finish line, and “some start-up and commissioning activities,” late this year: http://ow.ly/ReS750MszQH
  • And a prime Coastal GasLink contractor, Michels Canada, has signed agreements with six Indigenous-led companies, for construction of Section 6 of the pipeline: http://ow.ly/QQjG50Msy1R

LNG Canada gets two more modules

The photo above — taken by Grant Lutz — drew big interest on our and other social media channels.

On Twitter, Stewart Muir of Resource Works posted the photo, and this: “Years in the making, LNG modules for the LNG Canada project in Kitimat have arrived from Qingdao aboard this heavy load carrier. It’s a historic moment for Canada’s global climate agenda.”

And the Energetic City, based in Fort St. John, reported on Jan. 11:

“LNG Canada received two 50-metre-tall modules earlier this week at the material offloading facility in Kitimat.

“LNG Canada said the modules are among the largest the facility will receive and will be utilized in the gas liquefaction process.

“The two modules arrived from China on Tuesday, as no facility in Canada could manufacture and transport by land this scale of modular infrastructure, according to LNG Canada.

“One of the modules weighs 7,996 metric tonnes, and the other weighs 6,257 metric tonnes.

“The first module arrived at the site last year, weighing 4,618 tonnes. LNG Canada said the module will receive natural gas directly from the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which reached the 80-per-cent completion mark by the end of 2022.”

 

Japan looks for Canadian LNG

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Ottawa, and told us how his country needs and wants more liquefied natural gas from Canada.

The island nation is looking to replace Russian natural gas, which made up 10 per cent of its imports, with other sources.

Kishida’s staff said they have “high expectations” that Canada can help supply Japan. And Kishida added: “The world is having an energy crisis. We also want to have a closer relationship with Canada in the area of energy.”

But National Post reported that our Prime Minister Trudeau said nothing about potential LNG exports to Japan.

He did say this: “We know that being a reliable supplier of energy is important and we’re going to continue to look for ways to be that reliable supply of energy,”

But he added: We know the world is moving aggressively, meaningfully towards decarbonization, towards diversifying.”

Media was quick to note that when Germany’s chancellor came to Canada last August, looking for long-term LNG, Trudeau spoke instead of potential hydrogen exports. Germany then signed for long-term LNG imports from Qatar.

Kishida also hailed LNG Canada as a ‘flagship’ facility: http://ow.ly/EP5l50MqH5x

Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, through its subsidiary Diamond LNG Canada, is a 15% stakeholder in LNG Canada, which is to begin LNG exports to Asia in 2025.

And on social media, Woodfibre LNG spread the word: “We are the first e-drive LNG facility in Canada. This means our liquefaction process will be powered by renewable hydroelectricity, 14 times less emitting than conventional liquefaction powered by gas.”

Canadian LNG good for the world

Policy Magazines January-February edition included a special supplement on ‘LNG and net zero.’ It included these experts:

  • Stewart Muir of Resource Works wrote how Canada’s LNG ‘can play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the road to net zero.’ http://ow.ly/9YwB50Mqbph
  • Greg Ebel, CEO of Enbridge: “Canadian LNG can play an import role in reducing global emissions. . . . It’s not enough that we reach our energy targets in Canada. We have to take these resources to the countries that need it – and help the planet.”
  • Ebel’s predecessor as CEO of Enbridge, Al Monaco: “Canada could have a role to play in supplying LNG to the world and be a world leader. . . . To be frank, we missed the first wave of LNG development. But we’ve been given a second chance and we are at a critical crossroads right now that we need to take advantage of.”
  • Edward Greenspon of the Public Policy Forum: “The greatest contribution Canada can make to the global and national good is by further developing our natural gas. . . . The geo-political shifts so evident in 2022 now present Canada with a new opportunity to get it right – and the timing couldn’t be better.”

Read those last three stories here: http://ow.ly/Fs1850MrfkW

Hydrogen and First Nations: a long haul

While our Alliance has ‘LNG’ in its name, we also support and discuss other forms of energy development involving First Nations, including hydro-electricity, wind, natural and renewable natural gas, hydrogen, solar, geothermal, nuclear, and biomass.

So we took a look at hydrogen and First Nations in our latest blog:

“Hydrogen is a darling of clean-energy fans, a gas that when burned produces only water, and not the carbon emissions associated with fossil fuels.

“A great hope indeed, but getting there isn’t that easy. We have a long way to go, and there are carbon costs in producing the hydrogen.

“Still, hydrogen is of much interest to a number of First Nations in Canada, and some are involved in the early stages of developing Canadian hydrogen.”

ALSO IN THE NEWS

  • From Coastal GasLink: Great progress on the Coastal GasLink project. Check out our latest Connector newsletter: http://ow.ly/QJTN50Mre6t
  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith writes to PM Trudeau, urges Yes to Canadian LNG for Japan: http://ow.ly/uEgb50Mr9kf
  • And here’s why Japan’s prime minister sees LNG Canada as a critical project: https://bit.ly/3kboqtf
  • Alberta wants spot on Canadian trade mission to Japan, to talk LNG: http://ow.ly/1OUu50Ms8p9
  • From JFJV Kitimat: It’s been quite the journey since 2018. Watch this video on how much the LNG Canada site has changed over the last four years: http://ow.ly/I2tN50MomOa
  • From Woodfibre LNG: Our Community Partnership Program for 2023 is now open for applications: http://ow.ly/GhZ950Mm8rs

DATES

 January

February

March

April

  • Canadian Gas Association’s Energy Nexus & Annual Technical Conference, April 17-20, Calgary: http://ow.ly/Oh4L50MreMK
  • From the First Nation’s Major Projects Coalition, the Values Driven Economy Conference, April 24-25, Vancouver. http://ow.ly/rWEE50MnKe6

May

  • Canada Gas and LNG Exhibition and Conference, May 9-11, Vancouver: http://ow.ly/YxcZ50LjFM1
  • The Forward Summit 2023, May 17-18, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino near Calgary. Registration: http://ow.ly/Q8ZV50K7FYb (Note that there’s an Indigenous discount.)

June

July

September

October

2024

  • The International Gas Research Conference, May 13-16. Our Karen Ogen-Toews is on the national organizing committee. Conference website: https://igrc2024.org/

Know someone who might be interested in our newsletter? Please let them know they can subscribe here, for free. You’ll also find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

(Posted here 22 January 2023)

First Nations LNG Alliance Newsletter