Harper critical of Russian energy policy

[CHIMO]

British investors, Mr. Harper told his well-heeled audience in London, "have recognized the emergence of Canada's global energy powerhouse. Or as we put it, the emerging energy superpower our government intends to build."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060714.wharper0714/BNStory/International/home

I don't think that this guy has a clue in his head, other than confrontation and photo ops.

[MrPrax]

1. He is stupid...

he was commenting on Israel in Lebanon the other day and the guy doesn't seem to be 'up' on the current events from the last 3 years...talking about 'road maps' and 'two-state solutions' and the 'right to defense'...basically all of out of date notions...the US is no longer pushing the road map, Sharon arbitrarily designed the 'withdrawal plan' which Canada hasn't decided it has a position on and the 'two-state solution' is not really wanted by Israel anyway...

So now Harper is taking 'shots' at Putin...?

Canadians aren't that stupid -- if they are watching him this summer, then his numbers will drop, because Canadians really do value a 'statesman' that can function reasonably well at these international shin-digs and at least look like they have some 'individual' role to play and not simply picking up the pom poms for whatever rich guy becomes President.

[Spazito]

2. Well said, I totally agree! n/t

[CHIMO]

7. Have A Look

At these three photos and see if anything comes across.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060714.wharper0714/BNStory/International/home


http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/07/06/bush-harper.html?ref=rss

[tuvor]

3. "Uh, Vladimir, when I said you were self-serving and monopolistic..."

"Heh-heh. Uh, I didn't really mean it."

Harper, Putin promote Russia-Canada natural gas joint ventures in G8 prelude

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (CP) - A massive Canada-Russia joint venture in liquefied natural gas appeared to get nudged closer to reality Saturday as Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived at the G8 conference and immediately set to work with the host president.

Harper had delivered a cautionary speech on the need for open energy markets and Canada's pre-eminent position as an energy investment magnet before his arrival at this, his first major international summit.

But the prime minister hadn't yet checked into his hotel in St. Petersburg before he and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a joint statement promoting LNG co-operation that could see Russian gas coming through Canada to North American markets.

"We welcome close co-operation between Canadian and Russian energy industry players and will work to facilitate these relationships with a view to promoting international trade, particularly in the area of liquefied natural gas," said the statement, released after an hour-long bilateral meeting between Harper and Putin.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=572fd5ab-167f-419f-85b6-68ac319c7d5c&k=13460

[CHIMO]

4. More NIMBY

Don't unload in my back yard as it might go boom. So unload in your front yard and I will buy it at the right price.

Canadian Liquefied Natural Gas Import Projects
INTRODUCTION
Canadian Liquefied Natural Gas Import Projects is the second in a series of three reports that
discuss liquefied natural gas (LNG). To meet projected natural gas demand requirements, North
America will require increased imports of LNG. More than forty LNG import terminals are being
proposed in Canada, the US, Mexico, and the Bahamas. This report provides background
information on the eight LNG import terminal projects that are proposed for Canada.

http://www2.nrcan.gc.ca/es/erb/CMFiles/LNG_Web_Projects206NDS-04042005-9223.pdf

[daleo]

5. If one of these ever goes up, it would be quite the explosion

It sounds like most of it would be re-exported to the U.S., which would just make it more expensive to ship (and would be a waste of energy).

[glarius]

6. He's still following the lead of his hero Bush who said

something really stupid in Russia.
Bush and Putin were speaking to the press and Bush said, "I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world, like Iraq where there's a free press and free religion, and I told him that a lot of people in our country would hope that Russia would do the same."
Putin had a bemused half smile on his face when he answered, "We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy that they have in Iraq, quite honestly."

Harper, like Bush, thinks it's his prerogative to go around the world lecturing others on the way things should be done. I can imagine Harper going over like a lead balloon, when he starts lecturing the G8 leaders and talking down his nose at them, in that superior way of his. He's the first prime minister we've had in many years, who, in my opinion, does NOT have anything warm or personable about him.

[CHIMO]

8. Gazprom, Petro-Canada near $1.5bn LNG plant agreement

St Petersburg: Gazprom, the world’s largest gas producer, and Petro-Canada are on the “edge’’ of an agreement to build a $1.5bn liquefied natural gas plant in Russia, President Vladimir Putin said.
Petro-Canada, based in Calgary, has been negotiating with Gazprom for more than two years to build a plant near St Petersburg, Putin’s hometown to supply fuel to a regasification terminal at Gros-Cacouna, Quebec.
The Quebec terminal is expected to cost an additional $500mn.
“Petro-Canada and Gazprom are really on the edge of undertaking a really major project,’’ Putin told Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during talks between the two leaders ahead of the G-8 summit of leading nations in St Petersburg. “I would like to express my support.’’
Russia, which holds a third of the world’s natural-gas reserves, wants to start exporting the fuel in liquid form to the US, the world’s biggest energy consumer.
Canada hopes to turn itself into a key transit point for liquefied natural gas shipped to North America, in part by allowing gas companies to bypass more stringent regulatory requirements along the US’ heavily populated eastern seaboard.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=97764&version=1&template_id=48&parent_id=28