Tag: helium

Critical minerals incentives

Lithium in SK, Part 31: Critical Mineral Incentives implemented. Lithium and helium, as well as other critical minerals, are impacted. There’s a lot going on in the lithium space right now, and more stories to come.

The story includes the full press conference, as well as a video from Arizona Lithium showing an animation of the process.

Also: A search committee has been struck to look for a new head of the Alberta Energy Regulator. Sounds like there might be some politics involved. Prior to his stint as CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator, Laurie Pushor was Saskatchewan Deputy Minister of Energy and Resources from 2015-2020.

Critical minerals, railways and helium

Sask Minister of Energy and Resources Jim Reiter

Expanded mineral exploration incentive drives increased investment in Saskatchewan, says Sask Gov’t Did you know someone found some gold in northern Saskatchewan?

The latest developments in the lockout at Canada’s two biggest railways – a minute-by-minute timeline

Trevor Rose Podcast: Greg Robb, CEO of Helium Evolution, which is active in southern Saskatchewan.

Lighter than air

Royal Helium announces Val Marie helium project with Sparrow Hawk Developments. This means Saskatchewan will soon have multiple #helium producers, and a year from now, should be 2/3 on the way to its goal of having 15 helium purification facilities by 2030. I’m guessing we’ll have more than that by 2030.

For those who are not aware, helium production is almost indistinguishable from natural gas production, and requires oil and gas service companies to make it happen. Same drilling rig, same service rig, same lease builders, same facility builders, same just about everything. It’s the “other natural gas,” as it were. And Saskatchewan is aiming to hit 10% of the global market by 2030.

About bloody time

Mountain 3 Horizontal Directional Drill pullback in the Fraser Valley between Hope and Chilliwack, BC. Trans Mountain

Six years ago, they scratched dirt on TMX. Finally, FINALLY, it is nearing completion, and expected to enter service May 1.

The original pipeline was built over 65 years ago with equipment that largely didn’t even have hydraulics, and absolutely did not have computers, GPS, laser measurement or anything else like that. And they did it in 16 months.

Also:

Brian Zinchuk on Evan Bray Show: Multilateral wells, oil royalties, TMX pipeline, lithium, helium and more

The Germans came for LNG, Trudeau offered wind/hydrogen/ammonia

Remember when Germany came to Canada, asking for liquefied natural gas, and were handed a weird wind and hydrogen project in Newfoundland instead? Looks like things are moving forward on that front.

But wait! This whole scheme is to build on-shore wind generation on the southwest corner of Newfoundland, and use that to turn water from an old mine into hydrogen. But since there’s only one very small ship on the entire planet that can ship liquid hydrogen (at 20 degrees above absolute zero), the Newfie wind-hydrogen will be converted to ammonia to ship to Germany. Got that?

Wouldn’t it be easier to just build the wind turbines in the German part of the North Sea instead?

And for something completely different: Brian Peckford was one of the premiers that signed the Constitution Act of 1982, which brought us the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Op-Ed: Brian Peckford: Now that we can amend our constitution, we have no leadership to do so

And since we’re talking about political bullshit, here’s a little bullshit.

Quick Dick McDick: How is a calf born, in 5 minutes or less

And Saskatchewan’s burgeoning helium industry is continuing to grow, using oil and gas services to do so.

North American Helium adding two more processing facilities in Saskatchewan

Will a First Nation-owned pipeline be without protests and opposition?

Can’t imagine why oil shippers demand explanation from Trans Mountain for pipeline cost overruns, can you?

B.C. First Nation and Western LNG partner to purchase natural gas pipeline project. Can they succeed in bringing a major pipeline in on time and on budget, or will they face the same perils as Trans Mountain (above) and Coastal GasLink? Will other First Nations do all they can to halt it, like GasLink? Will they destroy equipment and raid camps?

US Bureau of Land Management accepts bids for the sale of Federal Helium System. FYI the US Govt getting out of #helium is what’s driving Saskatchewan’s burgeoning industry

Full interview with Scott Moe on Saskatchewan’s year in energy

Saskatchewan’s Year in Energy: Premier Scott Moe, 2023: Full Interview

If you didn’t have a chance to see this interview posted in four pieces before, here is the full year-end interview between Premier Scott Moe and Pipeline Online editor and owner Brian Zinchuk

Also, Premier Scott Moe’s social media folks posted the Pipeline Online story about the carbon tax on Saturday:

That bill there is directly from my father’s Jan. 2023 bill, when the carbon tax was still $50 per tonne. In April, it’ll be $80 a tonne. Without getting into too much detail, the shop that was connect to his natural gas is no longer. Thank God.

It was rather entertaining to read some of the comments, like suggesting my 80-year-old father should pay for upgrading the heating on his home (with only his meager CPP and OAS). Because every 80 year old will see a return in 10 years on such an investment. Certainly.

Another suggested he must be in a high income bracket – nothing could be further from the truth. Or that Trudeau’s climate action cheques must be enough to compensate.

True believers, those.

Anyhow, happy new year, everyone! And if you live in Saskatchewan and have SaskEnergy or SaskPower for home heating, happy no more carbon tax, on that, at least, year!

Lithium, helium, and conclusion of Moe interview

Scott Moe.

Saskatchewan’s Year in Energy: Premier Scott Moe, 2023: Part 4: Lithium, Helium, Conclusion

In the last year, two lithium companies are working on pilot projects for lithium commercialization. North American Helium increased its number of helium processing facilities from three to seven. Royal Helium, having just completed its first helium processing site in Alberta, may develop its Climax, Saskatchewan properties next.

Suncor CEO called out on the carpet for no longer drinking the Kool-aid

What, actually caring about profits is bad now?

Kruger was at the House of Commons natural resources committee to explain comments he made to shareholders in August about reducing his company’s emphasis on the transition to lower-emitting energy sources.

Kruger said his comments were misinterpreted as Suncor ending its commitment to curbing its carbon footprint, when the focus is really on ensuring the company is making profits now to be able to afford the required investments in decarbonization.

Also, North American Helium opens its seventh helium processing facility in Saskatchewan. For those who might be counting, that’s the fourth in less than a year.

And Tourmaline buys Bonavista Energy

And the Energy Transition Podcast talks about threats multiplying to global energy security.

 

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