http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/04/18/bc-kitimat-chinese-bank.html
China's largest bank will be helping to finance the proposed Kitimat refinery, which would process oil from the Alberta oilsands in B.C., instead of the raw bitumen being shipped overseas.
B.C. media mogul David Black said he has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) for the proposed refinery that is estimated to cost $25 billion.
Black, who was in Beijing on Thursday, did not say how much money ICBC will provide, only that the bank has expressed interest in loaning money to the enterprise, functioning as a co-ordinator to get other banks involved, and providing engineering and construction help to build the refinery.
B.C. media mogul David Black met with ICBC officials in Beijing this week.
"They’re very interested. There’s a lot in this for China and there’s a lot in this for Canada and B.C.," Black told CBC News. "This is a non-binding letter of intent. There’s lots of negotiating to do, lots of fleshing out for the agreement. But I am very sure that we’ll get there."
Black said more memorandums of understanding are anticipated between Chinese companies and his company, Kitimat Clean.
The Kitimat refinery — which should have the capacity to process the entire output of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline — will create 3,000 full-time jobs, 6,000 temporary jobs and generate large tax revenues for the government, Black said.
Kitimat Mayor Joanne Monaghan told CBC News she hopes the deal with ICBC goes through.
"You know once it's built, it's 2,000 to 3,000 permanent jobs at really good rates," she said. "I think we have to take a really good look at it."
The refinery plans to use a newly-patented "cleaner" approach to processing heavy oil. The Fischer-Tropsch process is said to decrease greenhouse gases per barrel by 50 per cent.
In addition to the refinery, the project will include a possible pipeline between Edmonton and Kitimat, a marine terminal, and a fleet of oceangoing tankers for the refined fuels..
"We're on our way to something that’s going to fabulous for Canada and B.C. and we will reduce environmental difficulties for the planet," Black said. "We’re hopefully going to reduce the greenhouse gases by half compared to any other refinery in the world."
A political issue?
The refinery is being planned on a 3,000 hectare parcel of Crown land near DuBose, B.C., that is zoned for industrial use.
The DuBose site is 25 kilometres north of Kitimat, 25 kilometres south of Terrace, and would be approximately 40 kilometres from a pipeline from a planned Enbridge marine terminal on the Douglas Channel.
Environmental groups and members of Canada's First Nations have expressed concern about a pipeline moving crude oil across ecologically sensitive northern B.C.
In March, Premier Christy Clark said she was in favour of the plan, while the B.C. NDP has repeatedly cast doubt on Black's ability to finance the project.
With the Liberals and NDP now in the thick of campaigning for the provincial election in May, the proposed refinery remains a sensitive topic.
While the refinery would mean the creation of a lot of new jobs, it also would involve an oil pipeline — something both parties have been trying to distance themselves from.
On Thursday, Black said he hoped the issue wouldn't become a political one.
"There's so much in this for B.C. I don't think we should let politics get in the way of this," he said.
卑诗省北部加地美(Kitimat)250亿元炼油厂再取得重大进展。筹建者传媒人布莱克(David Black)成功争取到中国工商银行牵头融资。为炼油厂的兴建打下坚定的基础。他估计在兴建期间可以为本地创造6000个工作机会。在投产以後，可以创造3000个永久就业岗位 iask.ca
布莱克又表示，有意邀请中国公司参加炼油厂的建筑。。 加拿大 家 园 网
筹建炼油厂的「洁净加地美」(Kitimat Clean)公司昨日发表公告，透露布莱克与中国工商银行在周四(18日)签订了谅解备忘录，让这家全中国规模最大的商业银行将来参与炼油厂的融资。
除了炼油厂之外，工商银行还会参与炼油厂相关的输油管，以及其他相关设施的融资工作。布莱克解释，中国工商银行将扮演牵头角色，邀请一批银行组成财团，为炼油厂提供资金。布莱克也有意邀请中国公司参与炼油厂的兴建计划。但没有透露是那些公司。
拟邀中国公司参与兴建计划
布莱克解释，引入中国公司参加建设炼油厂，可以削减成本。炼油厂可以分拆成不同部分，先在亚洲建造，再运到加地美装嵌。
他说，就是采用这一方法，仅是炼油厂的兴建工程便可以聘用6000人，时间长达5年。他说∶「我们不是把工作机会转移往中国。」
布莱克又透露，他还与中国一些能源巨头，包括中国石油化工(Sinopec)、中国石油天然气(PetroChina)等公司进行磋商，游说这些公司购买炼油厂未来出产的成品油。
布莱克表示，原先与奥本海默投资集团(Oppenheimer Investments Group)签订了合约，由该公司安排筹募资金，可是该公司一名主要负责人突然过世，让他不得不另觅伙伴。
www.iask.ca
布莱克指出，炼油厂成本的多少与该厂是否采用温室气体减排技术有莫大关系，造价由150亿至180亿不等。此外，还需要投入60亿元兴建输油管，另外10亿元添置运油轮。总投资额可达250亿元。
布莱克成立 「洁净加地美」(Kitimat Clean)公司主理炼油厂的筹建工作。该公司目前还需要取得环保许可证，以及与原住民展开谈判。但布莱克胸有成竹，说不论石油是通过输油管还是火车运载，也是一项可行的投资。
正在申建的北方门户输油管(Northern Gateway)计划计划从阿省北部油砂田向加地美输送重油，再出口到亚洲。布莱克声称，炼油厂将原油加以提炼之後再出口到亚洲，包括中国及印度等市场，是一个更为折中的方案。不仅航行海上的运油轮不会运载污染性更强的重油。加地美炼油厂的环保规格也较其他地方的炼油厂更严更高，可削减温室气体的排放。 本 文 来 自 家园网 IASK.CA
布莱克也表示，炼油厂除了是卑诗省有史以来最大的投资项目，在兴建期间可以创造6000个工作机会。在投产以後，可以创造3000个永久就业岗位。并可向省府输送大额税收。
