Newsletter: Woodfibre LNG project picks up pace

Our newsletter: 14 September 2023

BP to take all of Woodfibre’s LNG

Britain’s BP Gas Marketing, an arm of energy giant bp, has locked up all of Woodfibre LNG’s future production.

Of Woodfibre’s annual output of 2.1 million tonnes of LNG a year, BP will buy  1.9 million tonnes — and will be able to take the remaining output on a flexible basis.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates there is demand for lower-carbon energy today and well into the future,” said Woodfibre LNG president Christine Kennedy.

Woodfibre’s lower carbon intensity comes in part from its design, which will use electric drive for the chilling process rather than burning natural gas to generate electricity.

• Woodfibre LNG news release: https://ow.ly/ZYlB50PJQew
• bp news release: https://ow.ly/fwg550PJQex
• Business in Vancouver: https://ow.ly/e76A50PJQev

Work starts on Woodfibre modules

Major construction on the Woodfibre LNG plant and terminal facility is set to start up in earnest, and a Chinese yard has started building the first of 19 pre-fabricated modules for the project.

“We are in the final stages of preparing for the start of construction in September and working on all of the final regulatory requirements and bits and pieces that are involved in getting that done,” said Woodfibre LNG president Christine Kennedy.

The first module — the largest of which will weigh about 11,000 tonnes, or a little heavier than the Eiffel Tower — is expected to ship next summer.

And FortisBC has commenced construction on the 50-kilometre pipeline that will connect the project to its natural gas supply.

Once in service in 2027, the Woodfibre facility will be run by Woodfibre LNG with Pacific Canbriam supplying certified natural gas from northeast B.C. and bp buying the LNG for shipment to overseas markets.

Squamish Nation is involved with the project as a project partner and environmental regulator.

Enbridge bets more billions on gas

Canada’s Enbridge, a 30% partner in Woodfibre LNG, has made another big bet on natural gas.

The energy infrastructure giant will purchase three U.S.-based utility companies through US$9.4 billion in cash and US$4.6 billion of assumed debt.

It said the deal will double the scale of its gas-utility business, with about 7,000 employees delivering over nine billion cubic feet per day of gas to approximately seven million customers.

“Today, and for the long-term, natural gas will remain essential for achieving North America’s energy security, affordability and sustainability goals,” said Michele Harradence, Enbridge executive vice president and head of its gas utility business

• Enbridge story: https://ow.ly/cpr750PJR1g

Indigenous clean-energy news

•  $608M financing set for Apuiat wind farm in Quebec, with Innu Nation partners: https://ow.ly/ecPJ50PJR7N
• Newfoundland and Labrador gives World Energy GH2 land approval for green hydrogen project. Qalipu First Nation is a partner. https://ow.ly/C14M50PHfsI
• H2Naturally proposes to harvest BC deadwood with the help of Indigenous partners, capture the carbon, and produce hydrogen: https://ow.ly/5bCp50PHPpE
• Four First Nations seek to lead proposed Ontario transmission-line project: https://ow.ly/uXvx50PKPtiNunavut’s energy corporation investigates the region’s geothermal potential: https://ow.ly/5Qhe50PHQAR
• Feds put up $25 million for Weavers Mountain wind-energy project in NS, with Glooscap First Nation a partner: https://ow.ly/wLHl50PJOxA
• Bear Head Energy and Eskasoni First Nation sign MoU on hydrogen/ammonia plan for NS: https://ow.ly/WBJL50PJRai
• Charge Up provides project funding for Indigenous communities and businesses to purchase and install EV chargers. To learn more and apply, visit https://ow.ly/5XPw50PHfoU
• Indigenous Clean Energy’s 20/20 Catalysts Program is accepting applications for the 2024 cohort of the capacity-building program: https://ow.ly/KNSI50PI3ch

 ALSO IN THE NEWS

•  Coastal GasLink pipeline preparing to accept gas by the end of the year: https://ow.ly/zlzF50PJ4gB
• Can BC Hydro provide the power for electric liquefaction drives at LNG Canada’s Phase 2 expansion? https://ow.ly/GJfC50PIzsB
• Stewart Muir: How can Canada be part of solving the need for accessible, affordable, secure and cleaner energy in Asia? It’s easy: BC LNG. https://ow.ly/HxKe50PI1pj
• Case over Indigenous natural-resource rights on Prairies “could be one of the most important courtroom battles in Canadian history.” https://ow.ly/8TJG50PIZBr
• Ottawa plans to unveil its proposal to cap oil and gas emissions this fall: https://ow.ly/O4qk50PHRW5
• Viewpoint: Why Indigenous economic reconciliation needs a seat at the energy policy table: https://ow.ly/xAwv50PIjrT

DATES

September

• TheFuture of Energy Global Summit, Sept. 21-23, Banff: https://ow.ly/A0bM50PHRBX
• Energy expert Vaclav Smil on what will it take to reach net-zero emissions targets, Sept. 25, Vancouver, hosted by Resource Works. Tickets here
• The Canadian Gas Association’s annual regulatory course, Sept. 25-27 in Halifax NS: https://ow.ly/aITQ50PHfi3
• Forward Summit East, Sept 27-28, Orillia ON: https://ow.ly/u46550PySj7

October

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

November

• Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Conference, Vancouver, Nov. 1-2: https://ow.ly/aBBu50PILKN
• First Nations Energy Summit, Vancouver, Nov. 6-7: https://ow.ly/12P050PKQKK

2024

• The 21st annual BC Natural Resources Forum, Prince George, Jan. 16-18: https://ow.ly/YokA50PIsAW
• The First Nations Major Projects Coalition’s 7th annual conference, Toronto, April 22-23: https://ow.ly/4nw750PHYCf
• The 8th Indigenous Resource Opportunities Conference, Nanaimo: April 24 – 26. https://ow.ly/f1bl50PvYnx
• The International Gas Research Conference, Banff, May 13-16. Our Alliance CEO, Karen Ogen, is on the national organizing committee. https://igrc2024.org/

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