Ecana, one of the partners in the KM LNG (Kitimat LNG) is optimistic about prospects for liquified natural gas exports from the west coast of British Columbia, Canadian Press reports from a conference in Calgary.

Encana sees renaissance in natural gas, while others more bearish on prospects

Laurgen Krugel reports

Encana Corp. foresees a "renaissance" in natural gas prices once
terminals begin to pop up along the West Coast to export the fuel to
energy-hungry Asian markets, but others addressing an energy conference
on Tuesday weren't quite so enthusiastic.

"We think that the prices are going to stay robust in Asia.
You look today in Japan, it's still US$13 (per 1,000 cubic feet) over
there," Mike Graham, who heads up Encana's Canadian division, told the
Peters & Co. event....

John Langille, vice-chairman of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. said he's not quite so gung-ho....

:Canadian Natural has a large land position in northeastern B.C.'s shales, but has been focusing most of its attention on developing oil- properties in Western Canada and abroad. It has signalled no interest so far in jumping aboard the LNG bandwagon, though Langille said eventually the gas will have to find its way out of North America.

"And that will happen, but it's a five-year scenario before that happens," he said.