Canaport LNG first to host the Q-Flex on the Eastern Seaboard

Saint John

SAINT JOHN, NB, Dec. 1 /CNW/ - Travelling 22 days and 15,000 kilometres from Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, the Q-Flex MV Mesaimeer, one of the largest and most advanced vessels of its kind - arrived at the Saint John Port on December 1, 2009 to deliver 4.6 bcf of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to Canaport LNG.

"Not only is this the first LNG ship from Qatar to call on Canada, but the Q-Flex is the first LNG super tanker to arrive on North America's East Coast," said Phil Ribbeck, President of Repsol Energy North America. "This is an extraordinary moment for us and validates Canaport LNG's capabilities to receive such vessels, enabling Repsol to work with one of the most substantial gas-rich nations in the world."

"We are very pleased with the delivery of LNG to the Canaport LNG Facility as it illustrates the incredible market reach Qatargas now has," said Mr. Faisal M. Al Suwaidi, CEO of Qatargas.

"The Canaport LNG Terminal in Saint John is among the very few terminals in the world that can accept a ship of the Q-Max and Q- Flex's size. This marks a new era for our region and for Canaport LNG as a significant player in the global gas industry," says Blaine Higgs of Fort Reliance. "This is a very proud moment for Saint John and all who have helped make Canaport LNG a reality."

The Q-Flex is the world's second largest LNG tanker with a capacity that is roughly 55 per cent more than its predecessors and is more environmentally friendly with approximately 40 per cent lower energy requirements and carbon emissions than conventional LNG carriers. The culmination of reserves and efficient modes of transportation helps Qatar deliver a competitively priced natural gas supply to markets around the world.

Qatar has the third-largest oil and gas reserves in the world (about 14% of the world total) with proved oil reserves of 15 billion barrels and proved natural gas reserves of nearly 920 trillion cubic feet. In 2008, Qatar's total natural gas exported was 2 trillion cubic feet.

Canaport LNG's General Manager, Jorge Ciacciarelli said the arrival of the first Q-Flex is a significant step for the state-of- the-art facility.

"We have more reasons than ever to be thankful to the many people who continue to help us pioneer Canada's first LNG terminal. Saint John, New Brunswick is the first city to welcome the Q-Flex to the East Coast of North America, reinforcing our region as a reliable natural gas supplier.