B.C. company pressures feds to pave way for $750M gas export facility in Prince Rupert
A major B.C. exporter has announced it is ready to invest $750 million in a new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export facility in Prince Rupert, B.C. — though it still faces a legal battle against the Port of Prince Rupert in order for it to move ahead.
Additionally, Trigon Pacific Terminals CEO Rob Booker is urging the federal government to expedite the approval process for the project, arguing it is in that national interest against the backdrop of a trade war with the United States that has Canada seeking new markets for its oil products.
Booker says the company's board has given full spending approval for the project, which could be operational as soon as 2029 and would focus on selling product to Japan, South Korea and India, rather than the United States.
If it moves ahead, it would have an annual capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year.
"I think this project clearly aligns with federal priorities with respect to Canadian energy security, Canadian export focus away from the U.S.," he said. "It's a win-win-win, in that it's shovel-ready and ready to go and has the money to do it."
Trigon operates the largest export terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert, the third-busiest port in Canada. Its focus is primarily on metallurgical coal but it is seeking to diversify into liquefied gas and other products destined for overseas markets.
The project is backed by both the Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla First Nations, who have equity positions in Trigon, as well as the Albertan government, where much of Canada's petroleum is produced.
Brian Jean, Alberta's minister of energy and minerals, called the investment decision "great news for Canada and Alberta."
Project could be blocked by exclusivity deal
However, aside from regulatory hurdles, Trigon is also facing a legal battle in order to proceed.
Last year, the company sued the Port of Prince Rupert, arguing the port is blocking its attempt to change its business model to include liquid gas exports.
B.C. coal exporter suing port authority over right to send propane overseas
1 year ago
Duration 1:33
The Port of Prince Rupert says Trigon Terminals can't export liquid propane to Asia because two other companies have exclusive rights to do so. Trigon, which is trying to move away from exporting thermal coal, is now suing the port authority over the matter.
However, the port has an exclusivity deal with the exporters AltaGas and Vopak who have approved their own $1.35 billion export facility in Prince Rupert and who say part of that decision was based on the deal, which provides them with security in exchange for the investment of time and money needed to advance the project.
The Port of Prince Rupert, for its part, has filed a countersuit against Trigon, claiming the initial lawsuit is damaging the port's reputation as a reliable partner and that violating exclusivity could harm future deals.
Asked about those lawsuits, Booker said he is "confident there are several paths the federal government can take to make this a win for everyone."
Emissions from fossil fuel production rising
The federal government has not weighed in on the project, but last week the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced new legislation aimed at fast-tracking major projects, with five criteria to determine whether they are in the "national interest."
Those criteria include the project's likelihood of success, whether it would strengthen the country's resiliency and advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples, and whether it would contribute to economic growth in an environmentally responsible way.
However, some environmental groups have expressed concern that the threats from the United States are being used as a way to force through projects that would previously have been blocked due to their environmental impacts.
Those concerns come as much of western Canada, including parts of B.C., are once again blanketed by smoke from wildfires that have worsened, in part, because of rising temperatures.
While Canada's emissions have dropped slightly, the most recent analysis from the Canadian Climate Institute found the progress was largely offset by an increase in emissions from oil and gas production, which as of last year's analysis, made up 31 per cent of Canada's national total.
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NOVAGOLD Announces Appointment of New Director
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. ('NOVAGOLD' or the 'Company') (NYSE American, TSX: NG) is pleased to announce that the Company's Board of Directors (the 'Board') has approved the appointment of Ali Erfan to serve on the Board effective immediately. Mr. Erfan's ascension will fill the vacancy left by the departure of director Diane Garrett. 'I am very pleased to welcome Ali Erfan to NOVAGOLD's Board', said Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan, NOVAGOLD's Chairman. 'Mr. Erfan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a long-standing Vice-Chairman of The Electrum Group, investment adviser to Electrum Strategic Resources, which is the Company's largest shareholder and a global leader in precious metals mining, with multi-billion-dollar investments and operations in North America. I also wish to extend my deepest appreciation to Diane Garrett for her valued guidance and significant contributions to the Company over her seven years of committed service.' Mr. Erfan has extensive capital markets and industry experience as one of the key executives at Electrum, which he joined in 2007, and as a founding board member of Leor Energy, a privately held North American natural gas producer that went from a start-up in 2003 to being sold to Encana in 2007 for $2.6 billion. He later served on the board of Gatos Silver from IPO through to its merger with First Majestic and presently sits on the boards of Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: GBU.V), and Electrum's two privately-held silver vehicles — Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining and Sinda. Prior to joining Electrum, Mr. Erfan was a senior partner at 3i Group plc's London headquarters, one of the world's most prominent listed private equity and venture capital investment companies. Earlier in his career, Mr. Erfan was invested in several early-stage technology companies that achieved IPOs and M&A exits internationally. These included, among others, HTE (acquired by BASF), Insensys (acquired by Moog Inc.), Smart Fuel Cells (IPO Frankfurt), and CSR (IPO London, then acquired by Qualcomm). Mr. Erfan graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA and an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He holds an MBA from the London Business School and is a member of Kauffman Fellows Class 10. About NOVAGOLD NOVAGOLD is a well-financed precious metals company focused on the development of the Donlin Gold project in Alaska, one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world. With approximately 39 million ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories, inclusive of Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves (541 million tonnes at an average grade of approximately 2.24 grams per tonne, in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories on a 100% basis) 1, the Donlin Gold project is regarded to be one of the largest, highest-grade, and most prospective known open-pit gold deposits in the world. According to the 2021 Technical Report and the S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary, once in production, the Donlin Gold project is expected to produce an average of more than one million ounces per year over a 27-year mine life on a 100% basis. NOVAGOLD Contacts: Mélanie Hennessey Vice President, Corporate Communications Frank Gagnon Manager, Investor Relations 604-669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227 info@ Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This media release includes certain 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' (collectively 'forward-looking statements') within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward- looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as 'expects', 'continue', 'ongoing', 'anticipates', 'believes', 'intends', 'estimates', 'potential', 'possible', and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results 'will', 'may', 'could', 'would' or 'should' occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements contained in this media release are based on a number of material assumptions, including but not limited to the following, which could prove to be significantly incorrect: our ability to achieve production at Donlin Gold; the cost estimates and assumptions contained in the 2021 Technical Report and the S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary; estimated metal pricing, metallurgy, mineability, marketability and operating and capital costs, together with other assumptions underlying our resource and reserve estimates; our expected ability to develop adequate infrastructure and that the cost of doing so will be reasonable; assumptions that all necessary permits and governmental approvals will be obtained and the timing of such approvals; assumptions made in the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of our mineral deposits; our expectations regarding demand for equipment, skilled labor and services needed for exploration and development of mineral properties; our ability to improve our ESG initiatives and goals; and that our activities will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by development, operating or regulatory risks. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on several opinions, estimates and assumptions that management of NOVAGOLD considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding perceived merit of properties; mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; and the success of the strategic mine plan for the Donlin Gold project, including expected production and mine life. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent the expectations of NOVAGOLD management's estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the need to obtain additional permits and governmental approvals; the timing and likelihood of obtaining and maintaining permits necessary to construct and operate; the need for additional financing to complete an updated feasibility study and to explore and develop properties; availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; disease pandemics; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drill results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation and exploration successes; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in the United States or Canada; the need for continued cooperation between the owners of Donlin Gold LLC to advance the project; the need for cooperation of government agencies and Native groups in the development and operation of properties; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, disease pandemics, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, ore grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; whether or when a positive construction decision will be made regarding the Donlin Gold project; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in NOVAGOLD's most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly the 'Risk Factors' sections of those reports and other documents filed by NOVAGOLD with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting NOVAGOLD's website at or the SEC's website at or on SEDAR+ at The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections of NOVAGOLD on the date the statements are made. NOVAGOLD assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. __________________________________ 1 Donlin Gold data as per the report titled 'NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Donlin Gold project, Alaska, USA' with an effective date of June 1, 2021 (the '2021 Technical Report') and the report titled 'S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary on the Donlin Gold project, Alaska, USA' (the 'S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary'), dated November 30, 2021. Donlin Gold possesses Measured Resources of approximately 8 Mt grading 2.52 g/t and Indicated Resources of approximately 534 Mt grading 2.24 g/t, each on a 100% basis and inclusive of Mineral Reserves, of which approximately 5 Mt of Measured Resources and approximately 320 Mt of Indicated Resources inclusive of Reserves is currently attributable to NOVAGOLD through its 60% ownership interest in Donlin Gold LLC. Exclusive of Mineral Reserves, Donlin Gold possesses Measured Resources of approximately 0.9 Mt grading 2.23 g/t and Indicated Resources of approximately 69 Mt grading 2.44 g/t, of which approximately 0.5 Mt of Measured Resources and approximately 42 Mt of Indicated Resources exclusive of Mineral Reserves is currently attributable to NOVAGOLD. Donlin Gold possesses Proven Reserves of approximately 8 Mt grading 2.32 g/t and Probable Reserves of approximately 497 Mt grading 2.08 g/t, each on a 100% basis, of which approximately 5 Mt of Proven Reserves and approximately 298 Mt of Probable Reserves is attributable to NOVAGOLD. Mineral Reserves and Resources have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101 and S-K 1300.
