From our unique vantage point here in Prince Rupert, the world of western Canadian energy commodities could hardly be richer with opportunity today.
To our west, we see large Asian import markets eagerly seeking to lock in access to secure lower-carbon fuels that will help meet aggressive decarbonization targets. And to our east, we see vast Canadian resources and expertise that can readily be leveraged to produce in-demand exports such as Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Here at Trigon Pacific Terminals, we’re investing to be able to connect those two ends of what is poised to become a larger and globally transformational energy supply chain. And while you would think all the key players would be keen to help enable that, the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) has taken precisely the opposite stance.
“Withholds its consent” has been its response so far to our request for our proposed Trigon Pacific LPG project. The basis for that? We know little more than PRPA claims to have given exclusivity to one new terminal to handle all such exports through Canada’s third-largest port.
Our project has compelling advantages: it will leverage our experienced existing workforce and many aspects of the infrastructure in use today – our dock and vessel loading equipment, rail track, power and water supply, not to mention repurposing a portion of our terminal lands for low development costs and even lower environmental impact and assurance of being ready on time! This is driving strong market interest in our project – from both producers and end-users – who know the benefits of a fair and open market for marine terminal services.
We’re confident in our project’s ultimate ability to succeed in an open marketplace. But how much better would it be if the port authority stopped picking favourites and closing gates. If it instead took a good look in both directions and bought into a vision of open competition, resilient and robust supply chains, and the embrace of opportunity that will benefit Canadian and our trading partners.
