There is a familiar name as local contact for LNG on the North Coast

The prospects of LNG development on the North Coast are moving forward, with the BG group making plans for local consultation with residents of the north coast for later this month, the next step in what could be a major boost for the local economy.

And when locals gather to discuss those prospects, there will be a familiar face helping to guide the conversation.

Sharp eyed readers of home delivered mail will make note of the names on the back the recent brochure mailed by the BG group, which features Herb Pond as the local contact for the organization, listed as Community Relations Advisor.

The four page brochure introduces the BG group to North coast residents, outlines the key points of the proposed project planned for the Ridley Island area and explains what Liquefied Natural Gas is, as well as offer ups its response to any of the safety and security questions that local residents may have.

The mailing also touches on the history of the company and declares its respect for First nations in the region. As well, in a region that still suffers from high unemployment, the BG brochure offers up the tempting prospect of between 400-600 jobs when operational, with 3,000 jobs to be created for the construction phase.

No doubt welcome news for a community still struggling with its economy despite the growing importance of the Port of Prince Rupert.

Mr. Pond, a renowned civic booster, former city councillor and two term mayor of the city (2002-08) and who most recently as the unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the Provincial Legislature in the last election, will no doubt put his various public relations skills to work for his new employer. An impressive coup for the company considering Mr. Pond's various contacts both local and provincial.

He has in the past taken up his challenges with great passion and while some of his plans didn't pan out as he may have hoped, no one could ever say he didn't give full effort in his pursuits. Most we imagine would say that he had nothing but the best interests of the City and region when he pursued them, whether as Mayor or as the Liberal candidate in the last election

It will be quite interesting to see how he transfers his local knowledge of the region and the contacts he has around it towards the completion of what would be a major project for the North Coast, providing a local face to the plans of a large world player in the LNG industry.

The BG Group/Spectra Gas project is the second major LNG related project considered for the North Coast, Petronas a major LNG corporation from Malaysia also has its own terminal plans in the incubation stage, making for a mini gold rush of sorts for LNG on the north coast these days.

Past items from the North Coast Review on the BG project can be found below

September 12-- Spectra Gas touts Prince Rupert as its LNG destination
August 3-- Spectra Energy considers LNG shipments out of Prince Rupert

Most recent media items on the project can be found below.

The Northern View-- BG Group looking to begin public discussion on Prince Rupert LNG terminal
Terrace Standard-- Gas line to run north of Terrace

Spectra Gas touts Prince Rupert as its LNG destination

Spectra Energy Corp (SE) announced that the company has signed a Project Development Agreement with BG Group plc (BG.L) to jointly develop plans for a new natural gas transportation system from northeast B.C. to serve BG Group's potential liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Prince Rupert, on the province's northwest coast.  -- From a Press Release from Spectra Energy outlining the latest development plans for the North coast.

 Yet another Natural Gas pipeline project has been announced for the Northwest, with Spectra Gas in partnership with BG Group LNG terminal providing the details that would provide for a natural gas pipeline, running from the northeastern British Columbia gas fields to a terminal planned for Prince Rupert.

The Spectra/BG Group announcement of September 10th marks the second such announcement in recent months, with Malaysian energy giant Petronas having outlined its plans for the north coast over the course of the summer, which would see its own LNG Terminal in place to serve the markets of Asia.

The cost and operation of the pipeline announced by Spectra and the BG Group would be split fifty / fifty between the two companies and would be capable of carrying up to 4.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day to the proposed Prince Rupert Terminal.

And while the two companies thump the tub for LNG development in Prince Rupert, there are some that offer up a cautionary tone that the prospect of a line to Prince Rupert and Terminal is still very much in the conceptual stage.

With an Alberta based oil and gas publication suggesting that the partnership is planning a route over a section of British Columbia already dismissed by others as far to costly to work in.

The article outlines the thoughts of Enbrige and other users in the Kitimat area who in the course of their own developments took a pass on any plans to run a pipeline along the Skeena range towards Prince Rupert.

Whether that's just a competitive rebuttal from the folks at the various Kitimat projects or an actual wrench into the plans most likely won't be developed for years down the line, still it shows just how hot the development of LNG properties in the Northwest has become over the last few years.

Not to mention the rivalry it seems to be creating between port facilities in Prince Rupert and Kitimat.

Some background on the latest announcement from Spectra and BG can be found below.


Globe and Mail-- Spectra. BG make big pipeline bet in the race to B. C.'s coast
Vancouver Sun-- Spectra proposes natural gas pipeline across northern British Columbia
Calgary Herald-- Isolated ports compete for business
Calgary Herald-- BG Group inks pipeline deal for LNG Terminal
Calgary Herald-- LNG plants in B. C. spared the ruckus oilsands exports elicit
Global BC-- Spectra proposes natural gas pipeline across northern BC
CBC-- Spectra, BG, plan gas pipeline across northern B. C.
CFTK-- Gas Pipeline Proposed to Prince Rupert
CFTK-- Rustad on Rupert LNG (video)
The Northern View-- LNG pipeline proposed to connect Prince Rupert to northeastern BC
Equities.com-- SE and BG.L JV for New Natural Gas Transportation System