Kitimat LNG on the agenda at Houston conference

Energy

The Kitimat LNG projects have been added to a conference on LNG exports in Houston, Texas on December 1.

Zeus Events, the commercial organizer of the conference tweeted this morning  “Kitimat #LNG Export project added to N. American LNG Exports conference.”

The conference agenda describes the presentation this way:

Kitimat LNG Export Project Update
Kitimat LNG Project, Speaker TBA

Apache is developing the most advanced LNG export project in North America at Kitimat, British Columbia. Construction is expected to begin in early 2012, with operations to start in 2015. The representative has been asked to describe the project and provide an update, discussing what it will mean for British Columbia gas producers.

The conference website describes it as:

Proposals to liquefy and export North American gas as LNG have grown more numerous and controversial since our 2010 conference. At last count, ten liquefaction and export projects have been proposed on both coasts of North America. Analysts warn, however, that the United States is preparing to export its clean, abundant natural gas to countries like China, where it will be used for transportation fuel, while the U.S. will continue to import high-cost crude for its transportation.

This year’s conference will expand on our 2010 meeting to address political issues such as FERC’s willingness to approve export plant construction permits as well as examine new proposals. Costs, political hurdles and regulatory issues will be discussed.

The Oregon projects, seen by analysts at the June National Energy Board hearings as Kitimat’s chief rival are also on the agenda at the conference.