LNG team assembled to boost export projects

Alberta is creating a liquefied natural gas (LNG) investment team to work on securing investment on export projects that will increase the value of provincial natural gas resources.

It’s part of Alberta’s broader oil and gas strategy, which includes aggressively expanding energy upgrading opportunities as the government takes short-term action to address the oil price differential crisis.

Monday’s announcement responds to a key recommendation of Alberta’s Natural Gas Advisory Panel, appointed in May to address persistently undervalued natural gas and extreme price volatility due to transmission, storage and market access challenges.

The team is Greg Stringham of GS3 Strategies and John Carruthers of the University of Calgary School of Public Policy.

They will meet with industry leaders and advise government on steps to advance final investment decisions on LNG projects, reporting to Energy Minister Margaret McCuaigBoyd early next year.

“Whether we’re talking about oil or natural gas, the details are different but the story is the same. Albertans are getting pennies on the dollar because we can’t get our resources to international markets, and our biggest customer has become our biggest competitor,” McCuaig-Boyd said in a statement.

“We can’t sit on the fence like previous governments did. We must take the bull by the horns and fight for the full value of our natural gas.”

NOTLEY MARKS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley marked the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Monday.

Notley said in a statement the principle that every person has the right to equality, justice and dignity is fundamental to the progress, safety and security of our society.

“Human rights empower each and every one of us,” she said.

“They grant us the opportunity to reach our potential. Today and every day, let us work together to defend the inherent worth of every person and advance equality in Alberta.”