Report: Delays May Make Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Uneconomical
Further delays in the proposed Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline could drive more U.S. natural gas consumers to enter long-term contracts for LNG, making the Alaska pipeline less economical, according to a federal report issued yesterday. “[T]he longer an Alaskan pipeline is delayed, the more strength is gained by the proponents of LNG,” FERC said in its second report to Congress on the proposed pipeline. “As demonstrated by the magnitude of monies being invested in LNG facilities and the falling costs per unit of LNG infrastructure, Alaska is at risk of being marginalized in the search for new natural gas supplies for U.S. consumption.” Alaskan lawmakers will meet tomorrow to consider legislation that, if passed, would approve Gov. Frank Murkowski’s deal with BP, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips to own and operate the pipeline. The Associated Press article is carried via The Anchorage Daily News.