Canada’s Quebec leader OKs hydraulic fracturing
Stefan Baumgarten
16-Jun-2016
Opponents say the provincial Prime Minister Philippe
Couillard waited until parliamentary recess to reverse
course and approve drilling permits to Hydrocarbures
Anticosti. Pictured above is a hydraulic fracturing operation
in Alberta on the edge of the Bakken Play. (Eye
Ubiquitous/REX/Shutterstock)
TORONTO (ICIS)–The government of Canada’s Quebec
province has authorised the use of hydraulic fracturing
(fracking) for oil and gas drilling on Ile d’Anticosti in the
Saint Lawrence Gulf region, officials confirmed on
Thursday.
Under the autorisation, Hydrocarbures Anticosti was issued
certificates to drill and fracture three horizontal wells to
evaluate Anticosti’s oil and gas potential.
Hydrocarbures Anticosti, a partnership that includes oil
firms Petrolia and Corridor Resources, aims to demonstrate
the commercial viability of oil and gas resources on the
island, and to produce them. It is planning a Canadian
dollar (C$) $100m ($77 m) exploration
programme, according to its website.
In early 2014, a previous Quebec government led by the Parti
Quebecois (PQ) announced it would invest in oil and
gas exploration projects on Anticosti, working with four oil
firms, including Petrolia and Corridor Resources.
However,
shortly afterward, the PQ was ousted from power. The new Liberal
government under prime minister (governor) Philippe Couillard
initially seemed to rule out fracking, but since
then sent conflicting messages about its stance on
fracking and on the Anticosti project.
Opposition party Quebec solidaire on Thursday criticised
Couillard for issuing the fracking permits just after
Quebec’s parliament, the National Assembly, wrapped up for
the summer.
“I am not surprised that Philippe Couillard has waited until
the end of the parliamentary session to announce the issuance
of the certificate,” said Manon Masse, a parliamentarian for
Quebec solidaire.
“Knowing that the decision will hurt Quebec and flouts his
previous commitments, the prime minister did not have the
courage to announce it before the National Assembly,” Masse
added.
Earlier this month, the government of neighbouring New
Brunswick province decided to extend its fracking moratorium
for an indefinite period.
In related news, Montreal-based National Bank said in
a recent analysis that the US is now supplying more than
half of Quebec’s oil needs.
In the wake of the US shale boom, the US replaced OPEC and
North Sea producers as the province’s largest oil
supplier. US firms had exemptions for
those exports even before the 40-year-old ban on US
oil exports was lifted at the end of 2015.
Quebec has two refineries, in Montreal
and Quebec City, with a combined capacity of more
than 400,000 bbl/day.
SMALL IMAGE: Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard speaks to lawmakers in April. (Canadian Press/REX/Shutterstock)
INSET IMAGE: A capped off oil well on the edge of the Bakken Play in Alberta province. (Eye Ubiquitous/REX/Shutterstock)
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