Canada: Leadership change at Petronas-led PNW LNG

Petronas-led Pacific NorthWest LNG project on Friday appointed Anuar Taib, EVP and CEO Petronas Upstream as chairman of the board while Adnan Zainal Abidin has been named the president and CEO of PNW LNG. 

Taib has additionally been named the chairman of Progress Energy, a unit of Petronas and a majority owner of the Pacific NorthWest LNG, according to a joint statement.

Abidin, who has spent his career with Petronas, brings experience in LNG construction and operations, and will oversee the PNW LNG project’s transition to the construction phase, the statement reads.

Abidin will replace Michael Culbert as the president and CEO of PNW LNG, however, Culbert will continue as president and CEO of Progress Energy. He will also serve as the director of the boards of both companies.

Culbert was also named as Petronas Country Chair for Canada, responsible for overseeing Petronas activities.

Reuters quoted Culbert as saying the Pacific NorthWest LNG project’s progress depends on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s decision that was recently delayed as the authority reviews additional information on possible adverse environmental effects of changes to the project and its construction schedule and methods.

Culbert said a financial investment decision is expected by late summer or early fall on the $11 billion LNG export facility on Lelu Island in the District of Port Edward, British Columbia.

The proposed facility will comprise an initial development of two LNG trains of approximately 6 million tons per annum each, and a subsequent development of the third train of approximately 6 mtpa.

Petronas, Sinopec, JAPEX, Indian Oil Corporation and PetroleumBRUNEI are all shareholders in Pacific NorthWest LNG and the associated natural gas supply.

LNG World News Staff