Canada 3: U.S. 0 in West Coast LNG Race

Written by Daniel Graeber for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--With the race on for North American producers to prop up Asian demand, federal Canadian data show three long-term contracts secured for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from British Columbia.

The U.S. is the world leader in exports of LNG, though most of its export facilities are along the southern Gulf Coast, from where voyages to Asia are long. The U.S. is advocating for the Alaska LNG facility, though it requires a lengthy pipeline and is considered only a medium-probability project. It is permitted for exports, though not yet under construction.

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Canada, however, managed to deliver its first batch of LNG from the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, British Columbia. The initial facility has two trains, or liquefaction units, that can process 14 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) for exports. It delivered its first cargo in July and expansion plans will double the capacity through the addition of two more trains.

Subscribers can learn more about LNG Canada in a detailed plant profile.

Federal Canadian data show the facility already has three long-term deliveries in its books--two for China and one for Japan, which lacks few natural resources of its own. Four maritime shipments were made to U.S. energy company Sempra Energy (San Diego, California) and three deliveries by truck were made to Quebec's Gaz Métro, though volumes were only about 2% of total LNG deliveries through July, the last full month for which the Canadian government published data.

Canada's federal government, along with provincial leaders, is working to expand trade arteries to reach potential customers outside of North America. Trade arteries are largely locked to North America, though options are expanding across British Columbia. Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney listed the second phase of LNG Canada as a project of national significance.

"We can do more, we can do it faster and we can do it the right way," British Columbia Premier David Eby said earlier this month. "These projects reflect the values and will increase the prosperity of all Canadians."

Despite its own gas riches, the U.S. is a net importer of natural gas from Canada. Through July, federal Canadian data show total Canadian natural gas exports were about 5% above year-ago levels. Data published Friday from Industrial Info, however, show net imports in September are down 14% from year-ago levels of about 6.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d).

Canadian natural gas prices, AECO-C, are under pressure, with a Canadian regulator pointing to a 47% decline between 2023 and last year. The nation's midstream sector is overwhelmed, as producers churn out more than existing pipelines can handle, potentially leaving some product stranded in the field.

Apart from expanding trade outside North America, Canada and Mexico recently outlined a new trade partnership that focused on developing and investing in long-term infrastructure, from rail to energy corridors. Both sides have faced renewed trade tensions with the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

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