Thursday, May 22, 2014

North Coast well represented at Provincial LNG conference

Premier Clark kicked off a three day conference on LNG in BC on Wednesday, providing the opening address and a review of her Liberal Government's commitment towards turning the province into an LNG force in the world.

She opened her commentary as word was breaking on a major international deal between China and Russia, which some suggest could tilt the current playing field for many countries, including Canada. Still, the Premier expressed confidence that British Columbia would remain an important contributor to the energy sector and with a number of major LNG projects on the drawing board for Northwest British Columbia, those hoping to see that shift in economic fortunes in the region delivered, no doubt are hoping she is proven correct.

Premier Clark promotes BC's LNG industry at conference
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And while the Premier looked at the larger picture of LNG in BC, the conference will be provide for a fascinating look at where those projects may be today and what the future for them may bring.

Towards that overview, there is a fairly heavy Northwest influence in attendance at the Vancouver Convention Centre, with many participants preparing to provide some background on the pace of development over the three days of the conference.

Wednesday featured presentations from Industry participants in the region, with both major developments for Prince Rupert represented in Vancouver.

BG Canada, Spectra Energy and PacificNorthwest LNG representatives participated in a number of panels, featuring such topics as LNG Workforce Development, Global Markets for BC and B. C.'s LNG Advantage. The proponents of the Northwest Industrial projects provided overviews of their projects and the prospects for British Columbia in the world energy markets.

Among those making presentations today are a number of officials and industry representatives of the major proposals that we all know by name both in Kitimat and Prince Rupert.

For the North Coast the speakers list looks as follows:

Thursday May 22 --   An Afternoon Panel on First Nations' Perspectives: Featured on the Panel Garry Reece, Chief of Lax Kw'alaams Band and Ross Wilson, Executive Director of the Metlakatla Stewardship Society.

Thursday, May 22-- An Afternoon Panel on Communities' Perspectives,  Representing the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce, is Chamber President John Farrell.

Thursday, May 22-- An Afternoon Panel on BC Community Benefits, Representing the city of Prince Rupert is City Manager Robert Long.

Short snapshot reviews of all the Northwest participants can be found here, providing some background to their work and what they bring to the conference.

In addition to the dialogue, panel conferences and keynote addresses the conference features a Trade Show, with exhibits from a number of names familiar on LNG files for the North Coast.

Some of the booths and exhibits that will be showcasing the region and the prospect of development in it include:

Aurora LNG Partnership
Pacific Northwest LNG
Spectra/BG Gas
Kitsault Energy
Nisga'a Lisims Government

In addition to the industry, government and First Nations participation, there are a number of Northwest companies and organizations taking part in the trade show aspect of the three day conference.

The full listing of the 200 plus trade show participants can be reviewed here.

Rich Coleman, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development, brings the conference to an end on Friday afternoon, with the closing address.


You can learn more about the three day conference from the LNG in BC Agenda page here, or for a bit more background from the conference website, or through their twitter feed which is accessed by #LNGinBC2014

We follow up the developments in Vancouver with some background pieces culled from a variety of sources over the three day event, we'll feature them in our archive page for the conference here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

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