Last week in Europe, Higgs presented the case for investing in New Brunswick energy at the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam.
“If developed, our natural gas could offer a significant opportunity to assist immediately with world energy needs. It would be a major source for LNG, both as a replacement for coal and as a possible feedstock for hydrogen production if coupled with carbon capture and storage. What’s more is that we have deep water ports and industrial capabilities in Belledune and Saint John, making them ideal locations for future hydrogen hubs,” he said in his address.
“New Brunswick is sitting on reserves that could be crucial to world supply, but we need to find a way to have a meaningful dialogue with First Nations. We need to do this because time is of the essence,” he added. “Our LNG plant imports now, but can be converted to export quickly. We are home to Irving Oil Limited, who operate Canada’s largest refinery and who is a major hydrogen producer already — all of which is used for internal consumption.
Higgs said previously that natural gas is the key transition fuel to a greener economy that uses hydrogen as a fuel, but Ottawa must settle outstanding land claims in Atlantic Canada that are standing in the way of resource development. “The model is that out West, First Nations are involved in building an LNG plant,” he said.Article content
The federal government’s mindset is as foolish as was Germany’s, which closed down its nuclear plants and became totally dependent on Russian natural gas, Higgs suggested. “I intend to try to make this more of an issue. I’m glad I went to Europe because I saw what people who are experienced in energy understand. In Canada, political statements that the government will shut down fossil fuels is like when Germany said it would shut down nukes.