AltaGas’s Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET), located in Prince Rupert, B.C.
Calgary-based AltaGas Ltd., an energy infrastructure company with a focus on regulated utilities, midstream, and power, announced on Tuesday the grand opening of its Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET), located in Prince Rupert, B.C.
It’s the first marine export facility for propane in Canada.
The company said the facility began introducing propane feedstock in mid-April and the first shipment departed the terminal on May 23 bound for Asia.
The facility is expected to ship approximately 1.2 million tonnes of propane annually to customers in Asia, according to AltaGas.
Randy Crawford
AltaGas’s president and chief executive officer
“The completion of this game-changing project and the shipment of our first cargo are historic milestones for AltaGas, as well as for our project partners, customers, local Indigenous Peoples, surrounding communities, and Western Canada’s upstream energy sector,” said Randy Crawford, AltaGas’s president and chief executive officer, in a news release.
“With RIPET now operational, we can offer producers a uniquely complete solution for their propane, providing premium netbacks and market optionality, while also positioning AltaGas to profitably grow our Midstream footprint – a true win-win for AltaGas and our customers.”
The company said RIPET allows it to leverage the strength of its assets along the energy value chain in Western Canada – from gas gathering and processing, to liquids handling, fractionation and export – by attracting increasing volumes and enhancing throughput.
“RIPET signals to our customers overseas that Canada can deliver on energy exports, and the facility will make significant long-term contributions to international trade, support economic growth in northern B.C., and provide immediate access to clean-burning fuel in Asian markets, where demand is particularly strong,” said Crawford. “We’ve been extremely fortunate to work with a collaborative and experienced joint-venture partner in Royal Vopak and an extraordinary customer in Astomos.”
In 2017, AltaGas entered a multi-year agreement with Astomos Energy Corp., a Japanese propane importer and distributor, to purchase at least 50 per cent of the propane shipped from RIPET annually. RIPET provides producers and customers with a significant locational advantage given comparatively short shipping distances to markets in Asia – notably a 10-day shipping time from Canada’s West Coast compared to 25 days from the U.S. Gulf Coast, added AltaGas.
“The ability to import Canadian propane is a significant advantage for Japan, as it provides greater energy security and supply diversification, while also enabling Canada to maximize the value of its natural resources,” said Seiya Araki, president of Astomos. “This first-of-its-kind project demonstrates to the world what can be achieved through effective partnerships between Canadian and Japanese companies, and will ultimately benefit both countries for decades to come.”
RIPET is owned by a joint venture between AltaGas (as to a 70 per cent interest) and a Canadian subsidiary of Royal Vopak. Royal Vopak is one of the world’s leading independent tank storage companies, with significant experience in marine terminals worldwide. AltaGas has the right to 100 per cent of the capacity of RIPET, said the news release.
“We are very excited about this important milestone in our good and strategic partnership with AltaGas. AltaGas is a well-respected Canadian company with experience in developing energy projects, while storage and handling of gas is an important strategic focus area for Vopak. This export facility opens market access for Western Canadian producers to Asia, a premium market for propane,” said Eelco Hoekstra, chairman of the executive board and CEO of Royal Vopak.
– Mario Toneguzzi
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