Two Asia-based senior officials with the parent company for Woodfibre Natural Gas visited Squamish last week to learn more about the community in which they hope to locate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing and export facility.
Imelda Tanoto, whose focus is on geographic and sector expansion for Pacific Oil and Gas (POG), a subsidiary of Royal Golden Eagle International (RGEI), and POG president Ratnesh Bedi took part in a "historic" tour of Squamish and a series of private meetings on March 11 and 12, Gord Addison, community relations liaison for Woodfibre Natural Gas, told The Chief on Monday (March 17).
Tanoto, whose father Sukanto Tanoto heads up the $15 billion RGEI business empire, "is responsible for asset allocation and made the decision to pursue an LNG venture in Canada," Addison wrote in an email. Imelda Tanoto is a member of RGEI's executive committee, he said.
Vancouver-based Woodfibre Natural Gas, a subsidiary of POG, is proposing a $1.6 billion LNG facility on the site of the former Woodfibre pulp mill. The project, which would have the capacity to process and ship up to 2.1 million cubic metres of LNG a year, is in the early stages of the environmental assessment process. Company officials have said they hope to decide whether to proceed with the project by late 2014.
Tanoto and Bedi took part in a historic tour of Squamish on Tuesday under the guidance of Woodfibre Natural Gas officials, Addison said.
Addison said Tanoto and Bedi were particularly interested in the area's First Nations history.
While he declined to identify the other locals who took part in the tour or in Wednesday's meetings, Addison said Squamish's mayor and councillors did not participate.
Chris Pettingill, the Squamish Chamber of Commerce president, told The Chief he took part in the tour, "but not necessarily" as chamber president.
Imelda Tanoto has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. She previously worked for the investment banking arm of Citigroup Investment Banking in New York.
A company-supplied biography said Tanoto is a steadfast believer in the principles of corporate social responsibility.
"Imelda looks to familiarize herself with Squamish and the surrounding communities of the Howe Sound; while the local team continues to work closely with First Nations, the community and regulators to ensure that the bar is set high, that community needs are met and the results are consistent with the values of the area," the statement said.
