Laurel Andrews | Jun 18, 2012
The race is on between energy companies to be the first exporter of Canadian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Asia, Bloomberg reports.
The competition comes as Alaska’s leaders continue to struggle with developing the North Slope vast natural gas fields, the largest proven reserves of conventional gas in North America.
Bloomberg reports that Royal Dutch Shell has selected Calgary-based TransCanada Corp. to build a $4 billion pipeline to carry natural gas from British Columbia to the Pacific coast, a move that pushes Shell ahead of its three competitors in the race to tap Asian markets.
As Canadian companies look for new markets abroad, four competing energy companies have proposed facilities that would liquefy gas for shipment overseas. But Shell’s proposal is “much stronger now with the pipeline,” Bob Schulz, business professor at the University of Calgary, told Bloomberg.
Early access to Asian markets is crucial for competing energy companies and nations.
Shell Chief Executive Officer Peter Voser estimates that Canadian LNG projects have four to six years to begin construction, or they will lose out to the competiton.
Chinese LNG consumption alone increased around 16 percent between 2000 and 2010, and is estimated to continue growing at a rate of 12 percent a year through 2020, Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates.
As the scramble to tap Asian markets heats up, Alaska could lose out if it doesn’t move quickly.
In January, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell shifted his support from a $40 billion pipeline that would have shipped North Slope gas to Alberta, Canada, to one that would slice through Alaska southward to the shores of Valdez or another Southcentral port, where the gas would be liquefied and shipped on tankers.
Asian markets may have interest, including Japan, which is interested in beefing up its natural gas energy after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami shut down many of its nuclear power plants.
Alaska’s partner in its proposed gas pipeline is the same as Shell’s in British Columbia — TransCanada. Under former Gov. Sarah Palin, the state approved up to $500 billion in subsidies for TransCanada to pursue a gas pipeline project.
Yet, for decades now, the leaseholders to Alaska’s natural gas — mainly Exxon Mobil Corp., BP and ConocoPhillips — have made only incremental steps in developing the North Slope’s gas fields. So the pipeline project has stalled. Parnell has indicated in recent months that progress is being made to spark development, but no details have been released.
What is certain is that as LNG projects proliferate, Alaska must examine its role in world markets — and fast.
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
MORE DETAILS:
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
