Newsletter: Why Canada should export LNG, and more news. . .

Our newsletter of 13 April 2023

Why Canada should export LNG

Indigenous leaders and energy executives, in Ottawa on a mission with Energy for a Secure Future (ESF), called on G7 countries (which include Canada) to prioritize Canadian LNG at their next ministers’ meeting on the climate, energy, and environment.

• ESF chair Shannon Joseph: “As the world looks for cleaner and more affordable and reliable sources of energy, our friends around the world . . . are looking to Canada to help fill the gap.

 “Energy for a Secure Future believes that we can, and we should, leverage our energy resources to simultaneously provide affordable energy, but also to support our allies in reducing dependence on higher-emitting fuels like coal, and, most importantly, advancing economic development abroad and economic reconciliation in Canada.”

The group spoke with the Japanese ambassador, and French and German diplomats. Our Alliance chair, Haisla Chief Councillor Crystal Smith, and our Alliance CEO, Karen Ogen, were among those took part.

• Chief Crystal: “We aren’t victims of development. Increasingly, we are partners and even owners of major projects. My Nation is the proponent of an LNG project . . . Cedar LNG. It will be the largest majority First-Nations owned infrastructure project in Canadian history and the first Indigenous-owned LNG export terminal in the world. . . . Other nations are asking us for our help, and the Haisla Nation has a solution for them.”
• Karen Ogen: “LNG development has provided . . . opportunities to lift thousands of Indigenous people and their communities out of inter-generational poverty. . . . The members of the First Nations LNG Alliance also recognize that many opportunities are being lost to energy and climate policies that are missing the big picture. That’s why we have sent letters to all the members of the G7, including Canada, calling on them to include energy, and LNG, on the agenda of their next meeting.”

Chief Billy Morin of the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta and managing director of Axxcelus Capital Advisory Partners, and John Desjarlais, executive director of the Indigenous Resource Network, also took part.

• Watch this video of the group’s news conference: http://ow.ly/FHGY50NCN88

G7 ministers weaken statement on LNG

An initial draft statement prepared for G7 climate meeting became public. According to the draft, the ministers were going to say that new upstream investment in natural gas supply will be needed to address energy security after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“In this context, in this particular contingency, we recognize the need for necessary upstream investments in LNG (liquefied natural gas) and natural gas in line with our climate objectives and commitments.”

However, on April 5, the draft wording was instead changed to: “We recognize that, based on the IEA’s (International Energy Agency) analyses, there would be considerable uncertainty for future demand of natural gas and LNG and consequently there are risks of supply and demand gap to be addressed.”

The new draft also altered the earlier language on LNG and gas investments to say they would be needed to “bridge the gap in a manner consistent with our climate objectives and commitments.”

And it added a line saying, “Furthermore we will accelerate the clean energy transition through energy savings and gas demand reductions in the process of decarbonization.”

UPDATE: In the end, the G7 countries agreed to push for renewable energy, but stopped short of setting a deadline for phasing out coal, and left the door open for continued investment in gas/LNG: https://bit.ly/41b6nnn

‘Save a Canada’ in emissions

A special report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce sees natural gas as “best positioned to support a lower carbon energy world” — and slams government for “conflicted public policy” and “lack of decisiveness”  that have blocked or stalled LNG developments.

“Canada is failing to capitalize on its natural gas deposits. This hurts Canada’s economy, global reputation and allies, as well as the global environment since countries in need of energy often choose dirtier fuel sources whose carbon is not subject to a price regime. All of this suggests that Canada needs to undertake a serious re-examination of its energy policies.”

The report continues with such points as:

• “IHS Markit estimates that switching just 20% of Asia’s many coal-fired power plants to natural gas would prevent an estimated 680 megatonnes (MT) of CO2 emissions annually (IHS Markit, 2021). To put this in context, Canada’s annual emissions are 672 MT. In other words, switching just 20% of Asia’s coal-fired power plants would save the equivalent of ‘one Canada’ in terms of annual emissions, while switching 40% would save “two Canadas”.
• “Canada’s LNG opportunity is made possible in large part by the constructive relationships built between First Nations and energy companies over the past few decades. As these partnerships grow and expand, the economic benefits flowing to First Nations and the broader Canadian economy should increase considerably.’

And the report concludes: “In LNG and the broader energy and climate economies, one thing is clear: the world needs more Canada.”

• Read the full report: http://ow.ly/9nsf50NCJJM

 Welcome to new members

The First Nations LNG Alliance welcomes three affiliate members: Fortis BC, LNG Canada and TC Energy. All support First Nations rights and opportunities. Read about them here: http://ow.ly/VhZT50NEGoY

Indigenous clean-energy news

• Malahat Nation on Vancouver Island to test solar panels embedded in sidewalks, roadways, parking lots and other paved surfaces: http://ow.ly/45kI50NCNtO
• The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations on Vancouver Island are exploring wave-energy technologies that could link to their microgrid. Deadline is tomorrow, April 14. http://ow.ly/vPvs50NCQwt
• Public input is invited, through tomorrow (April 14), on a Nova Scotia wind farm proposal backed by Sipekne’katik First Nation: http://ow.ly/RAcQ50NCPJk

ALSO IN THE NEWS

• Cedar LNG will produce hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue. And it marks the first project of its kind in Canada that’s majority-owned by an Indigenous nation. http://ow.ly/fe7X50NGsiB
• Video: RCMP say a 2022 attack on a Coastal GasLink worksite was orchestrated by anarchistic outsiders. Police have identified “more than half a dozen suspects” and arrests could be “weeks away.” http://ow.ly/AXQS50NC96j
• Energy executives push feds to make good on pledge to speed up resource-project approvals: http://ow.ly/hV6150NBx9y
• Indigenous communities are increasingly taking a leading role in critical oil and gas projects.: http://bit.ly/40SRmq4
• Opinion: ‘The whims of politicians’ leave Canada on sidelines in global #LNG boom: ly/zrRY50NB7Ow
• Coastal GasLink pipeline 98% complete in BC’s Peace region; and 84% over-all: http://ow.ly/GKNJ50NCiqB
• New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs blames PM Justin Trudeau after Repsol pulls plug on NB LNG project: http://ow.ly/RFhM50NFpBb

DATES

Our next webinar comes up on Thursday April 20, at 10am Pacific. Registration now is open, and free: http://ow.ly/jhr950NBs3J

OTHER DATES

April

• The Canadian Gas Association’s Energy Nexus and annual technical conference, April 17-20, Calgary. Info/register: http://ow.ly/YJrI50NhrM1
• From the First Nations 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.)
• Nation2Nation’s ‘She Leads’ women’s gathering, May 25-26, Smithers BC. Info/register: http://ow.ly/AFTx50NCaVX

June

• The Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase 2023: June 1-2, Vancouver: http://ow.ly/IZC850LH58j
• National Coalition of Chiefs Energy and Natural Resource Summit, June 11-12, Priddis AB (near Calgary): http://ow.ly/s7EH50NEGEC
• The Global Energy Show, June 13-15, Calgary: http://ow.ly/UvTL50LjFlM

July

• The LNG 2023 Conference, July 10-13, Vancouver Convention Centre. Info/register: http://ow.ly/VVUl50MjbwU
• The sixth annual national Indigenous Clean Energy Forum, July 28, Vancouver. Info/register:http://ow.ly/CvbA50NteNK

September

• Carbon Capture Canada, Sept. 12-14, Edmonton: http://ow.ly/3iBP50LRo0R

October

• Nation2Nation’s 7th annual forum in Terrace BC, October 17-19: https://nation2nation.ca

2024

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

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(Posted here 16 April 2023)