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Premier Danielle Smith has called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to promote Alberta’s desire and ability to supply affordable and reliable natural gas to Japan.
Smith sent the letter on Wednesday as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Ottawa late that night.
“Our unparalleled energy resources, commitment to emissions reduction and historical connections with Japan position us to be a key contributor to Japan’s efforts to diversify its LNG supply to one that is responsibly developed by a key ally,” she wrote.
The letter noted Japan as the second largest natural gas importer in the world and was previously securing 10 per cent of its supply from Russia. They are so reliant on Moscow for for fuel, they were given an exemption by the G7 on a measure that caps the price of Russian oil below market rates in an attempt to prevent a similar shortfall of energy as what Europe experienced in 2022.
Smith sees this is an opportunity for Alberta to step in to offset these challenges.
The premier also pointed to the province signing a memorandum of understanding with the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation in November 2021 to expand market access for Alberta’s energy sector, and a “renewed commitment to natural resource cooperation and development.” The MOU is designed to improve cooperation on environmental technologies like hydrogen, ammonia and carbon capture, utilization and storage.
Japan and South Korea have both invested in the LNG export terminal in Kitimat, B.C., set to come online in 2025.
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Smith also called for a seat at the table for Alberta in any discussion regarding the potential export of energy as the provinces are the owners and stewards of their own natural resources.
According to The Canadian Press, Kishida told guests at a luncheon hosted by Trudeau that liquefied natural gas will play a “crucial role” in Japan’s energy transition, and that Canada’s looming LNG export terminal is one example of multiple ways Ottawa can help.
Japan takes over the presidency of the Group of Seven this year and Kishida’s visit to Canada is part of a multi-country tour. The Group of Seven also includes Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the U.S. and the European Union.
Kishida met with Trudeau on Thursday before heading to Washington.
The premier applauded Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s commitment to fast-track energy and mining projects in the name of economic security for Canada’s democratic partners.
“Alberta believes there is a strong business case for shipping responsibly produced energy to Japan and other allies,” said Smith in her letter.
She emphasized the role Canada can play on the world energy scene to prevent “despotic rulers with little concern for the environmental and human impacts of their energy production to fill the vacuum.”
In Japan’s attempt to shed itself of a reliance on Russia and China, Kishida created a ministry for economic security and is attempting to bring nuclear reactors back online after many were halted following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
— With files from The Canadian Press
Twitter: @JoshAldrich03
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