B.C. Premier Christy Clark has used her current trade mission to Asia to reassure Asian business executives and government representatives that she strongly supports B.C.'s burgeoning liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector.
"Many people here are a bit confused about where we stand in Canada on pipelines in B.C.," she said from Korea in a press conference call yesterday.
"I was able to say unequivocally that our government is working as hard as we can to enable the construction of these three pipelines."
She then zeroed in on her support for the Kitimat LNG pipeline, which is led by Apache Corp. and includes EOG Resources Inc. and Encana Corp.
"The news that they're already clearing land for the first of these pipelines and that it's through the environmental assessment and has got its export licence is very well received. That clears up some of the confusion."
Clark, who will be in Manila, Philippines, May 19 before returning home, was in Japan several days ago and saw firsthand how desperate the country is for energy.
"As Japan transitions from nuclear, they're facing a 30% deficit in the availability of power," she said. "Tokyo Power, which imports LNG, is working incredibly tight 24-7 to try to serve the country's needs."
Clark said she was surprised to walk down corridors in government offices only to find that, as an energy conservation measure, half of the lights were not turned on.
Earlier this week four global energy giants announced plans to develop a $12 billion LNG plant in Kitimat – a project that would be the largest of four LNG plants proposed for the province.
Royal Dutch Shell will take a 40% stake in the project whereas PetroChina, Mitsibushi Corp. and Korea Gas Corp. will each take 20% stakes.
Natural gas pipeline operator Spectra Energy Group (NYSE:SE) announced May 14 that it plans to spend an additional $6 billion in B.C. after 2015. The company is progressing on a $1.5 billion expansion program in B.C. that is slated to be complete by 2013.
