LNG

Canadian liquefied natural gas will be in the spotlight as the world’s energy leaders take the stage at LNG2023, the pre-eminent meeting of the international LNG industry set to take place soon in Vancouver in British Columbia.

The LNG and natural gas industry will meet from July 10 to July 13 for a conference and exhibition hosted by the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) and which is the 20th edition of the largest triennial LNG event.

Up to 15,000 delegates and stakeholders from more than 85 countries are expected to attend LNG2023.

The organisers said that the event would feature more than 250 speakers and 150 exhibitors, providing delegates an essential voice in the “vital discourse on LNG’s role in ensuring future energy stability, sustainability and affordability” in the years to come.

“Canada is on the cusp of becoming an LNG exporting leader in a world demanding reliable, sustainable sources of responsibly produced energy,” says Jason Klein, the Chief Executive of LNG Canada, the Shell-led project in BC. Klein will open the conference on July 10 with a leadership dialogue session.

Global security

Klein intends to talk about ways the LNG Canada joint venture under construction in Kitimat on the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation can help provide global energy security while reducing global greenhouse-gas emissions by supplying LNG to displace coal as an energy source in Asia.

“Our future LNG business will provide security of supply for global markets that rely on Canada’s natural gas reserves to fuel their economies, reduce global GHG emissions as natural gas replaces the use of coal and brings significant economic growth and stability to British Columbia,” Klein explained.

Along with the many Canadian delegates and exhibitors, several Canadian industry and Indigenous leaders will represent the country at the global event.

Crystal Smith, Chair of the First Nations LNG Alliance, and Sharleen Gale, Chief Councillor of the Fort Nelson First Nation, will join energy leaders in discussing the important role LNG projects play in Indigenous reconciliation.

Also set to speak is Greg Ebel, CEO of Canada-based Enbridge Inc., which is a leading pipeline natural gas company and a growing supplier of North American LNG feed gas. Ebel will discuss LNG’s role in “facilitating an orderly” energy transition.

Mike Rose, President and CEO of energy company Tourmaline, has said he will focus on how the environmental impact of the LNG supply chain has been reduced through innovations in methane and carbon emissions mitigation.

The Canadian Gas Association said it intended to showcase Canadian organizations and innovations in a dedicated Canadian industry pavilion.

“CGA members include energy distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of goods and services to the industry and meet 38 percent of Canada’s energy needs,” the body noted.

Essential forum

Mel Ydreos, Executive Director of LNG2023, said the event would be an essential forum to understand the evolving policy environment and the latest technological advances.

“LNG will be crucial to resolving the global energy crisis and securing a reliable pathway to deeper decarbonisation,” stated Ydreos.

LNG2023 is presented by the International Gas Union (IGU), GTI Energy and the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR).

For information or tickets visit www.lng2023.org

Enbridge Inc., the Canada-based North American natural gas and oil pipeline company, said it was securing more US LNG feed-gas supply contracts but also expects Western Canada to help fill the Asian supply and for a smoother pathway to the Gulf Coast for the huge Canadian oil resources.

The Canadian National Energy Board said it was scheduling hearings over the next three months to consider a jurisdictional challenge of the approval of a pipeline needed to supply feed-gas to the LNG Canada project led by Royal Dutch Shell.

Canadian North American native First Nations have expressed anger that many liquefied natural gas export projects in British Columbia have been blocked and blame the self-regarding Greens movement and well-off professional environmentalists for denying them opportunities.