A new study from the University of Ottawa’s Positive Energy program (PDF, 1.1MB) examines the difference between final investment decisions in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors in Western Australia, the world’s second largest exporter, and British Columbia, with only one project under construction.
The study, authored by Andrew Pickford, Positive Energy Research Affiliate, suggests that there are some important commonalities between the projects that succeeded and those that failed across Western Australia and British Columbia. It reveals important differences in context and institutional arrangements for decision-making between Australia and Canada that may have contributed to the countries’ varying experiences securing investor and public confidence and attracting LNG investments.
The study’s findings are relevant for other mega-projects that will need to be financed and built on the road to net zero GHG emissions by 2050 (e.g., hydrogen, large-scale renewables).