Talk of Alaska: The LNG Option

Tue, February 5, 2008
Posted in Talk of Alaska

The Alaska Gasline Port Authority’s bid to build a pipeline between the North Slope and Valdez was recently thrown out by the state on a technicality in the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) process. It’s not the first time the project has been called dead — that’s been happening ever since former governors Bill Egan and Wally Hickel put the idea forward. Two weeks ago, we heard from producer ConocoPhillips about why they are the best ones to build a pipeline. This week it’s the Port Authority’s turn.

Was the Governor wrong to reject the plan for a gas pipeline to Valdez? Would the producers be willing to let their gas go to Valdez to be liquefied and sent out on tankers? The LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) option is our subject on this week’s Talk of Alaska, with guest Bill Walker, Project Manager and General Counsel for the Alaska Gasline Port Authority.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Palin publishes natural gas pipeline project invitation (3 Jul 2007)
AGIA draws proposals from five companies, oil giants not among them (3 Dec 2007)
TransCanada the only company to meet AGIA requirements (4 Jan 2008)
Alaska Gasline Port Authority asks for reconsideration (11 Jan 2008)
Gasline Port Authority appeals AGIA decision; denied (30 Jan 2008)
Backbone II weighs in with legislators on gasline (1 Feb 2008)
Web Extra: David Gottstein on AGIA (1 Feb 2008)

UPDATE (2/7): You can read more about the changing LNG market with this post from an Alaskan-focused journalist working in D.C., covering Alaska politics as well as the petroleum industry.

GUESTS:

Bill Walker, Project Manager and General Counsel, Alaska Gasline Port Authority
Live callers statewide

HOST: Steve Heimel

LIVE BROADCAST: Tue, Feb 5 at 10:00 a.m. on APRN stations statewide

PARTICIPATE:

Call 550-8422 (Anchorage) or 1-800-478-8255 (statewide) during the live broadcast
Send e-mail to talk [at] aprn [dot] org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air)

SUBSCRIBE: Get Talk of Alaska updates automatically by e-mail, RSS or podcast

Standard Podcast [58:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Comments

5 Comments to “Talk of Alaska: The LNG Option”

Steven J Heimel on February 6, 2008 at 5:33 am

This was the second show we have done using live e-mail, and it got a lot of response. It appears there are many who can type out questions and comments as they listen.
mpb on February 6, 2008 at 11:50 am

Steve–”It appears there are many who can type out questions and comments as they listen.”

That’s why none of us are President– we can chew gum and walk.
John Proffitt on February 6, 2008 at 2:30 pm

Yeah, but watch out for those pretzels.
Robert Lee on February 12, 2008 at 11:08 am

I liked the 2 ideas about changing the product that was exported. One person gave a solution that Iceland came up with of cheaply produced aluminum and the first caller suggested converting it to electrical energy. I presume that it can be argued that burning gas by the end user is the most efficient use.However, the suggestions are both very creative. It would be great to have a show that concentrated on alternative solutions to get revenue from gas other than a gas pipeline.
John Proffitt on February 12, 2008 at 11:25 am

An interesting idea, Robert. I’d be curious to know, from an economist, for example, whether there’s more value for Alaska in raw resources or more finished materials and services. For example, if you converted the gas to electricity, do you get more money for the gas than if you sold it as a commodity?

Of course, you couldn’t sell enough electricity to keep up with the gas supply, but electricity could be just one of the “finished product” outputs.

In any case, it’s an interesting question.