Steelhead LNG appoints Ernest Buchan as projects director

Steelhead LNG said that Ernest Buchan has joined the Vancouver-based company as Projects Director.

As Projects Director reporting to Steelhead LNG’s Vice President, Technical, Ian Hill, Buchan will build and lead an experienced project team that will work with industry partners and contractors to help them evaluate and develop LNG project opportunities through pre-FEED (front end engineering design), FEED and EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) phases. Buchan will also work with regulatory agencies in British Columbia to secure the permits required for individual projects and support Steelhead LNG at the corporate level in developing its business and project management systems.

“In many ways, LNG development is a new industrial frontier for BC that presents a range of new challenges for proponents, First Nations, communities, contractors and regulators,” said Nigel Kuzemko, CEO, Steelhead LNG. “To meet those challenges, we recognize the importance of building a highly capable leadership team with proven credentials in working with partners and stakeholder groups to successfully deliver major projects in different settings.”

Buchan’s engineering, construction and project management experience in the LNG sector includes all aspects and phases of field development, from exploration opportunity framing through to commissioning and operations support, in offshore, onshore and integrated upstream/downstream developments. He has worked in various development and project leadership positions in the Netherlands, Sakhalin and Oman, and most recently was Technical Manager and Offplot Integration Manager for Chevron’s Gorgon LNG Project in Western Australia (a 15-mtpa, three-train plant). Additional past positions include Integrated Commissioning Team Manager for Sakhalin Energy’s Sakhalin II Integrated Oil and Gas Project in Russia (a 10-mtpa, two-train LNG plant) and Technical Manager for Shell Development Australia’s FLNG concept development for the Sunrise Field in the Timor Sea (5-mtpa FLNG train).

“I’m excited to move to BC,” said Buchan. “While Steelhead is a new company, the members of its executive team are experienced and respected professionals in the LNG industry, and they know what it takes to structure and deliver LNG projects. With Canada’s significant gas reserves and BC’s proximity to major LNG markets in Asia, it’s exciting to be involved at the outset as Canada develops its LNG sector.”

Press Release, August 21, 2014; Image: Steelhead LNG