Petronas Chief Warns It Could Pull Out Of Canada LNG Project

Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional (Petronas) said on Thursday that it could pull out of its $10 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Canada due to what it sees as the country's slow progress on a new taxation scheme.

A Petronas spokesperson confirmed comments made by Shamsul Abbas, Petronas' chief executive, in an interview with the Financial Times, in which he said that he doubted the firm would be able to make a final investment decision by the end of this year and that the project remains "uncertain."

"Canada has to buck up real fast to be a credible global LNG player if it wants to be taken seriously by potential investors," Shamsul was quoted as saying ahead of a visit to Canada.

Petronas, which has been expanding abroad to shore up future earnings as output slows at home, bought Canada's Progress Energy Resources in 2012 in a deal worth around $5 billion that gave it shale gas properties in northeastern British Columbia.

It has been planning the LNG terminal to supply energy-hungry Asia from North America, but has said the final investment decision would hinge on whether the British Columbia provincial government comes out with promised tax measures for the LNG industry before the new year.

British Columbia has promised the legislation around the LNG tax will come out in October, and be approved by the end of November.

"Petronas needs to be assured that the project is economically viable and satisfies its investment criteria before going ahead with the project," the firm said in a statement to Reuters on Thursday.

Petronas said it would proceed with financing and evaluation as planned until a decision is made.

One of the reasons Petronas is holding back for now is the "lack of appropriate incentives", Shamsul was quoted as saying.

"Rather than ensuring the development of the LNG industry through appropriate incentives and assurance of legal and fiscal stability, the Canadian landscape of LNG development is now one of uncertainty, delay and short vision," he said.

(Reporting By Trinna Leong; editing by Stuart Grudgings)



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Mot  |  September 26, 2014
Tell them that we are not building the pipe lines and terminal for them. If they want the gas buck up. If they are not going to make money, then pack up your macaroni box and head home. We are not paying for it.
Dan Robinson  |  September 25, 2014
This to me is not surprising. I have worked in the oil industry in Western Canada drilling wells for 30+ years with around 5 in the International market in various places around the globe. Having witnessed the progress the rest of the world is making and unfortunatly seeing how Canada is developing is disheartning. Canada is again going to miss the boat so to speak and be by-passed in the LNG market as it just is not a place for the big players to invest and make money. Between the greedy Government wanting to much(and dragging their feet) and the people of the country being brainwashed by the enviromentalists and media Canada is set up to fail, again. The people of Canada need to realize Alberta supports the whole country and the sooner they do, if ever, this is when Canada will prosper. Unfortunatly i dont see it happening anytime soon.


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