One of the driving forces behind Canada’s entry into the global LNG market is calling it quits after nearly two decades at the forefront of the country’s natural gas industry.
Susannah Pierce, president and country chair of Shell Canada, is set to leave the company after 16 years, Shell announced in a statement.
Pierce, who has led Shell Canada for the past four years, played a key role in two of the company’s most significant projects in the country: the LNG Canada export terminal, the Polaris/Atlas carbon capture and sequestration (CCUS) initiative and the establishment of the BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy.
Pierce’s tenure saw Shell advance its $40 billion LNG Canada project in Kitimat, BC, which remains one of the largest private investments in Canadian history. The first phase of the project, expected to launch later this year, will produce 14 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas, with plans to double its capacity in a proposed second phase.
She was also involved in the development of Shell’s CCUS projects, aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of its operations, especially its oil sands which were sold off to Calgary-based Canadian Natural Resources.
However, Pierce’s leadership has not been without controversy. Environmental Defence Canada named her one of being a ‘ruthless climate villain’ and accusing her of “painting Big Oil green”by promoting fossil fuel expansion “under the guise of sustainability.”
In a farewell statement on LinkedIn, Pierce expressed pride in her contributions to Shell’s Canadian portfolio: “Working alongside a highly skilled team of professionals dedicated to providing the energy the world needs at this pivotal time has been a privilege,” she wrote.
Pierce will be succeeded by Stastia West, currently Shell Canada’s vice-president of integrated natural gas, effective March 3. West, who began her career at Shell, has over 25 years of experience in the energy sector, with expertise spanning finance, commercial strategy, mergers and acquisitions and asset management.
In her new role, she will continue overseeing Shell’s integrated gas unit and the company’s 40% stake in LNG Canada.
The project, operated by Shell, is backed by major international partners, including Malaysia’s Petronas, PetroChina, Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation and South Korea’s Kogas.