Canada is exploring the possibility of an energy partnership with France that could include liquefied natural gas exported from Canada’s Pacific coast, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said, following discussions between the leaders of the two countries on expanding energy cooperation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations gathering in New York, Anand said it was “quite conceivable” that Canada could establish arrangements with European countries involving LNG produced and exported from the West Coast. She said France could be among the countries involved in such a partnership.
French President Emmanuel Macron has recently called for closer energy ties with Canada as European countries look to diversify their supplies amid disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East and higher energy prices. Canada is the world’s fifth-largest natural gas producer and entered the global LNG export market in June, when the LNG Canada facility in British Columbia shipped its first cargo. The Shell-led project is the first major North American LNG export facility with direct access to the Pacific Ocean.
Anand said Canada is discussing potential energy partnerships with countries around the world, extending beyond LNG to clean energy, wind, solar and nuclear power. She said energy cooperation has become a recurring subject in her discussions with international counterparts as Canada looks to match its resources and expertise with the needs of partner countries.
She pointed to earlier Canada-Germany discussions involving LNG destined for Asian markets through a swap arrangement, which could allow Germany to benefit from third-party sales rather than requiring Canadian LNG to be shipped directly to Europe. German state-controlled energy company Uniper also finalized a 20-year agreement in July to purchase Canadian LNG.
Anand said similar approaches could potentially be considered in Canada’s discussions with France, describing a range of possible arrangements for expanding international energy cooperation. Energy will also be on the agenda when she hosts Germany’s foreign minister in Canada later this week, along with discussions on critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
