Natural gas from British Columbia’s north east has had it good for decades thanks to strong market demand from the United States. Then the Americans figured out how to tap a massive amount of gas from their own Marcellus Shale. Canadian exports have been declining as a result, and that has even affected eastern Canada’s demand because it has easy Marcellus access too. With a lack of gas pipeline capacity from west to east, Canadian producers are struggling. Meanwhile, the race to develop LNG markets in Asia may have potential, but due to global commodity prices it has been slow to materialize.
Companies like FortisBC have been dealing with this challenge, for example by supplying LNG for civic power backup in the city of Whitehorse and creating transportation supply on Vancouver Island. Transportation accounts for 40 per cent of carbon emissions, and using LNG instead means lower costs and a 30 per cent GHG reduction.
Ferus produced this humorous clip to illustrate how it is finding hope in the face of adversity by building a plant in BC to supply LNG for mines in the North. The company already operates an Alberta LNG plant that is aimed at broader transportation demands.
