Liquefied natural gas

The road transportation sector is the biggest GHG emitter in Québec, accounting for 43% of total emissions. Heavy vehicles using diesel emit 28% of this total. Natural gas has proven effective for road transportation through its cleaner combustion compared to diesel motors. A truck that runs on natural gas instead of diesel makes it possible to reduce GHG emissions by up to 25% as well as almost completely eliminate the emission of air pollutants. Not only is natural gas a safe choice, it cuts engine noise emissions by 10 decibels—which gets unanimous support. Worldwide, more than 20 million vehicles already run on natural gas.

Using liquefied natural gas as a fuel for ships allows to reach and surpass current environmental standards on atmospheric emissions. The use of LNG makes it possible to reduce GHG emissions by up to 25%, compared with marine diesel, in addition to almost completely eliminating fine particle emissions and other air pollutants. And since LNG is insoluble, it doesn’t pose a risk to the environment because if it is spilled it evaporates without contaminating the soil, water or wildlife. LNG motors are also quieter and produce less vibration, which is more respectful of marine life.

In Québec, industry is responsible for almost one third of greenhouse gas emissions. One of Énergir’s solutions for fighting climate change is to encourage the use of natural gas by Québec industries. Those located in remote areas like Northern Québec and the Côte-Nord, which aren’t served by the gas network, can now look forward to a supply of LNG. When a plant uses natural gas instead of oil, it cuts its GHG emissions by up to 32%. And of note is that for many types of industrial processes, electricity cannot replace a thermal energy like oil or natural gas. This is why the possibility of using natural gas is a key factor in sustainable economic development.

Energy costs account for about 30% of mining companies’ operating expenses, and using natural gas allows them to be competitive and continue operating in Québec. Replacing oil products with natural gas allows them to not only generate economic gains but also to considerably reduce their GHG emissions and minimize their environmental footprint. Natural gas has a number of applications: production of electricity, heating and mineral processing and transportation. Stornoway Diamonds Corporation was the first mining company in Québec to use LNG.