Our newsletter: 06 July 2023
A B.C.-based green group has launched yet another social-media campaign attacking LNG. They say it’s aimed at people attending the LNG2023 conference in Vancouver July 10-13 (though those attendees obviously support LNG) and it urges the B.C. government to stop LNG expansion.
Supporters of LNG struck back, starting with CEO Stewart Muir of Resource Works:
“It’s time to recognize that natural gas, and particularly LNG, is not the villain of our climate story, but a character we’ll need more than ever,” he wrote in a guest column in Business in Vancouver.
He noted that Canada’s western premiers have firmly acknowledged the importance of exporting low or zero-emitting Canadian LNG to reduce global emissions.
“Natural gas, particularly LNG, serves as an eminently pragmatic transition fuel, evidenced by the coal-to-gas shift in the United States.
“As Canada’s gas exports to the U.S. rise, it’s clear that we’re not just key players in this decarbonization journey, but also potential pioneers for countries grappling with the stark realities of energy poverty.
“LNG’s role as a bridge fuel is more crucial than ever for developing nations.”
And: “Renewables will definitely grow and in an accelerated fashion, but so will LNG, especially if it is low in greenhouse gas emissions, which happens to be a characteristic of the LNG being developed in Canada.”
And then the C.D. Howe Institute told federal ministers in an open letter that “the benefits of Canadian LNG are compelling.” And it says Canada should prioritize LNG, and create an effective regulatory framework for advancing LNG projects.
Big growth seen in demand for LNG
A little while ago, we noted that the U.S. had seven operating LNG-for-export plants, and three more under construction.
Now make that four more under construction.
And the latest word is a further three have been approved, or soon will be, by investors.
Canada won’t catch up, but Alberta’s Canadian Energy Centre does see Canada becoming the world’s fifth largest LNG producer by 2035.
The push by the U.S. to increase LNG exports (along with a serious competitive push by Qatar) has led the nay-sayers to predict a long-term glut of LNG on the world market which they hope would derail LNG expansion plans.
But professional market-watchers see, rather, impressive growth in world demand for LNG.
China, for one, is shopping for long-term supplies of LNG. It plans to add roughly a dozen new import terminals, and could double its imports by 2033.
Alberta’s Canadian Energy Centre sees Global LNG production reaching nearly 720 million tonnes by 2035. World output this year is expected to be around 456 million tonnes.
In 2035, the Alberta centre says, LNG demand in China is forecast to reach nearly 151 million tonnes, followed by Japan at 60 million tonnes, India at 52 million tonnes, South Korea at 50 million tonnes, and Indonesia at 31 million tonnes.
- Read our blog: https://ow.ly/gn9450P28Wa
See the Haisla HaiSea tug
Will you be at the LNG2023 Conference in Vancouver July 10-13? If so, you’ll see HaiSea Marine’s electric tug, HaiSea Wamis, docked beside the Vancouver Convention Centre. About the tug: https://ow.ly/rV0m50OVKAN
- Meanwhile, concrete is poured for HaiSea’s tugboat facility at LNG Canada, Kitimat: https://ow.ly/uLZ750OWAaz and https://ow.ly/VkuP50OWAay
Indigenous clean-energy news
- Semiahmoo Nation and partner get $14.4 million from Ottawa for renewable natural-gas project in South Surrey: https://ow.ly/LtIn50OZgiZ
- Kitselas Geothermal gets OK for exploratory work in Lakelse Lake area: https://ow.ly/tWBH50OZjW2
- Feds put up $50 million for the Bekevar Wind Power Project in Saskatchewan, in which the Cowessess First Nation is a partner: https://ow.ly/KggP50P1sV6
- Tobique First Nation is majority owner in new wind-energy project in New Brunswick: https://ow.ly/AQWr50OWA0S
- Six Nations of the Grand River lead the charge on Canada’s largest battery farm, in Ontario: https://ow.ly/ELvI50OXBHW. Podcast at https://ow.ly/HT9a50OYyIg
- Three Fires Confederacy to support battery materials park north of Toronto: https://ow.ly/xCEC50OXBO2
- Six Indigenous economic development corporations are involved in 47 solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric projects: https://ow.ly/hkHb50OYbsb
- QUEST Canada partners with USask for renewable-energy initiatives in Indigenous communities: https://ow.ly/a89o50OUsZn
- Ontario’s Hydro One “thrilled” to partner 50-50 with Indigenous peoples on new transmission projects worth over $100 million: https://ow.ly/Qjo350OZfPF
- Indigenous Clean Energy is accepting applications for its 2024 Indigenous capacity-building program: https://ow.ly/hz0650OWA2n
- Indigenous inclusion means a Just Transition to a clean-energy future: https://ow.ly/Norf50OXARZ
- North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation funds grants “to engage and empower Indigenous communities in climate adaption.” https://ow.ly/zBOp50P1nKJ
ALSO IN THE NEWS
- Hereditary chief Clifford White on LNG opportunities for his Gitxaala Nation in BC, and the Gitxaala environmental ‘watchmen’ who monitor territories by boat along the LNG shipping route: https://ow.ly/VTIh50P1SaO
- From Energy for a Secure Future Canada: Video: Dominic Barton, former Canadian Ambassador to China, discusses LNG opportunities and the energy transition, with ESF’s Shannon Joseph: https://youtu.be/caLvo2MZi8o
- Simon Baker joins hereditary chief Ian Campbell, Squamish Nation, to explore how that Nation became regulators of the Woodfibre LNG project, and FortisBC’s pipeline to feed it: https://ow.ly/rFgJ50OVFXV
- With Indigenous communities as partners, Canada can be the next global energy powerhouse.— Indigenous entrepreneur Chris Sankey; https://ow.ly/KuaC50OWzAS
- Chastity Davis-Alphonse speaks with Simon Baker from Squamish First Nation and Tanya Laing Gahr from FortisBC about Indigenous relations and economic reconciliation. Podcast from Business in Vancouver: https://lnkd.in/gsYPvVy5
- A federal loan-guarantee program would facilitate equity participation by Indigenous communities in major projects.— essay from the Royal Bank of Canada: https://ow.ly/v6bj50P2AWm
- A Reasoned Path: An Evening with Vaclav Smil. Join Resource Works for a special evening with world-renowned energy expert Vaclav Smil. Tickets for this Sept. 25 event in Vancouver via https://ow.ly/4Xlq50P0cQP
DATES
July
- The LNG 2023 Conference, July 10-13, Vancouver Convention Centre. Info/register: http://ow.ly/VVUl50MjbwU Speakers include our Alliance chair, Chief Crystal Smith of the Haisla Nation.
- 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 21st annual BC Natural Resources Forum, Prince George BC, Jan. 16-18: https://bcnaturalresourcesforum.com
- The International Gas Research Conference, May 13-16. Our Alliance CEO, Karen Ogen, is on the national organizing committee. Conference website: https://igrc2024.org/
Know someone who might be interested in our newsletter? Please let them know that they can subscribe here, for free. You’ll also find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
