本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Oil sands draw Japanese interest
By PATRICK BRETHOUR AND DAVE EBNER
Friday, January 13, 2006 Posted at 4:57 PM EST
Globe and Mail Update
Japanese energy companies are contemplating investment in Alberta's oil sands, or buying crude from existing projects, the country's Calgary consulate says.
A delegation of government officials and energy firms are touring Alberta next week, spending a day in Edmonton and three days in Calgary, where they will meet with Canadian energy and pipeline firms. but will not visit Fort McMurray in the north, in the heart of the oil sands industry. “A lot of companies are interested in investing,” said a consul spokesman.
However, Japan itself would not make any investment, he added.
The delegation includes representatives from Japan's natural resources ministry, and executives from Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd., Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd., Nippon Oil Corp., Japan Energy Corp., Mitsubishi Co. Ltd. and Mitsui Co. Ltd.
Foreign firms from France and China have only recently invested in the oil sands, but Japan has had a presence for nearly three decades, in the form of Japan Canada Oil Sands Ltd., which operates a 10,000 barrel-a-day project, 50 kilometres south of Fort McMurray.
Japanese companies have been hesitant to look at Canada as a new source of supply because of the Japan's long-term relationship with Middle Eastern oil producers, said Brian Fowler, director of commercial development for Enbridge Inc.'s $4-billion Gateway pipeline project. The line would connect Edmonton to the west coast of British Columbia, marking the first time that oil sands crude could move to Asia.
Japan imports virtually all of its oil, and of that, nearly 85 per cent comes from Persian Gulf producers, the spokesman said. But Japan is hoping to reduce its dependence on Middle East oil, he added.
Mr. Fowler agreed, saying the government of Japan wants to more diversity in oil supply and has been working to encourage private business to pursue that goal.
“They do have a strong interest in the oil sands,” Mr. Fowler said. “The issue is really how they engage business so they can achieve their objective.”
The delegation of Japanese businesses heading to Calgary is one sign of progress, Mr. Fowler said, though he noted that Japan remains at an early stage, in terms of interest, studying the potential supply from the oil sands rather than actively pushing to sign commercial contracts for supply on Gateway.
Enbridge has said three-quarters of Gateway's 400,000 barrels a day would likely be exported to Asia. The company has solicited China, Japan and South Korea, receiving the most enthusiasm from rapidly growing China. Last April, PetroChina International Co. Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding with Enbridge to buy as much as 200,000 barrels a day from Gateway.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
By PATRICK BRETHOUR AND DAVE EBNER
Friday, January 13, 2006 Posted at 4:57 PM EST
Globe and Mail Update
Japanese energy companies are contemplating investment in Alberta's oil sands, or buying crude from existing projects, the country's Calgary consulate says.
A delegation of government officials and energy firms are touring Alberta next week, spending a day in Edmonton and three days in Calgary, where they will meet with Canadian energy and pipeline firms. but will not visit Fort McMurray in the north, in the heart of the oil sands industry. “A lot of companies are interested in investing,” said a consul spokesman.
However, Japan itself would not make any investment, he added.
The delegation includes representatives from Japan's natural resources ministry, and executives from Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd., Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd., Nippon Oil Corp., Japan Energy Corp., Mitsubishi Co. Ltd. and Mitsui Co. Ltd.
Foreign firms from France and China have only recently invested in the oil sands, but Japan has had a presence for nearly three decades, in the form of Japan Canada Oil Sands Ltd., which operates a 10,000 barrel-a-day project, 50 kilometres south of Fort McMurray.
Japanese companies have been hesitant to look at Canada as a new source of supply because of the Japan's long-term relationship with Middle Eastern oil producers, said Brian Fowler, director of commercial development for Enbridge Inc.'s $4-billion Gateway pipeline project. The line would connect Edmonton to the west coast of British Columbia, marking the first time that oil sands crude could move to Asia.
Japan imports virtually all of its oil, and of that, nearly 85 per cent comes from Persian Gulf producers, the spokesman said. But Japan is hoping to reduce its dependence on Middle East oil, he added.
Mr. Fowler agreed, saying the government of Japan wants to more diversity in oil supply and has been working to encourage private business to pursue that goal.
“They do have a strong interest in the oil sands,” Mr. Fowler said. “The issue is really how they engage business so they can achieve their objective.”
The delegation of Japanese businesses heading to Calgary is one sign of progress, Mr. Fowler said, though he noted that Japan remains at an early stage, in terms of interest, studying the potential supply from the oil sands rather than actively pushing to sign commercial contracts for supply on Gateway.
Enbridge has said three-quarters of Gateway's 400,000 barrels a day would likely be exported to Asia. The company has solicited China, Japan and South Korea, receiving the most enthusiasm from rapidly growing China. Last April, PetroChina International Co. Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding with Enbridge to buy as much as 200,000 barrels a day from Gateway.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net