As they wait on a Government decision, Pacific NorthWest LNG makes some management moves

The process towards a Federal Government decision on the Pacific NorthWest LNG project continues on, with the Globe and Mail reporting this week that the Malaysian based energy company has provided further background information to the Federal government in response to a request from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.

The request for new information is related to items of interest on the work schedule for the suspension bridge and pier structure over the Flora Bank region of Lelu Island.

That flow of information has the company hopeful that the Federal government is getting closer towards its decision on the project and while they wait, Pacific NorthWest LNG has announced a few changes to the management structure with an eye towards the construction phase of the proposed development.

Late in April Petronas announced that Michael Culbert would be relinquishing his Presidents duties with Pacific NorthWest LNG advising that he had been appointed to the position of country chairman in Canada for Petronas, he will also remain as a director of both Pacific NorthWest LNG and Progress Energy.

As Mr. Culbert moves into his new position, a new name appears on the Pacific NorthWest corporate directory as  Mr. Adnan Zainal Abidin, a vice president of global LNG projects at Petronas assumes the duties as Pacific NorthWest LNG President and CEO.

"Adnan brings decades of LNG construction and operations expertise to Pacific NorthWest LNG"s growing team. Pacific NorthWest LNG's transition to the construction phase of the project is in good hands with Adnan" -- from the media release announcing some management changes for Pacific NorthWest LNG

Mr. Abidin took on his new duties on May 1st and the naming of a new president is seen by industry observers as a sign by the Malaysian company that it is willing to  move forward on the project despite the length of time that the review process has consumed to this point.

Petronas Canada LNG project chief sees investment decision in months
Pacific NorthWest hopes B.C. LNG project in final stages before approval
Petronas names new President of Pacific NorthWest LNG

The company is hopeful that the process towards a decision from the Federal Government will resume in June, with hopes for a September timeline for a final investment decision by Petronas and a range of other Asian partners.

While it waits for that Federal decision, the company has reined in some of its Canadian spending in recent months, with the bulk of those cost cutting measures taking place in the Northeast part of the province.

Progress Energy slashes spending due to Pacific NorthWest LNG delays
Petronas slashes spending as it awaits decision on B.C. liquefied natural gas project
Progress to cut capital spending to $500M as Pacific NorthWest LNG delay drags on

The delays to the approval process have also required Petronas to seek new procurement when it comes to construction an commissioning issues related to the terminal and pipeline projects.

The delay in decision making for the Pacific NorthWest project comes as timelines for LNG development in British Columbia appear to be narrowing.

A report this week notes that declining revenues in the energy sector and the lengthy review process related to the list of projects proposed for the province is working against Premier Clark's ambitions to create an LNG industry in the province.

Canadian LNG prospects keep getting worse as prices tank and red tape delays projects

See our archive page here, for a full overview of the Pacific NorthWest LNG proposal.