by wp_sysadmin | Feb 27, 2026 | Home, News
A new mining company wants to restart ore exports in Skagway
Avery Ellfeldt, KHNS, February 26, 2026
A Canadian mining company is hoping to be the first to export ore from Skagway since 2023, renewing local concerns about decades of contamination from past mineral shipping.
Selkirk Copper is a newly formed mining company based in Canada’s Yukon territory. The company recently acquired a project known as the Minto Mine, which exported ore out of Skagway until it shut down amid insolvency.
Selkirk is working to restart operations at Minto and is in talks with officials in Skagway about what it would look like to again use the local port.
The company, whose largest shareholder is the Selkirk First Nation, formally kickstarted that process in a draft letter of intent earlier this month.
During a February Ports and Harbors Advisory Board meeting, Selkirk CEO Colin Joudrie said the goal is to “start a discussion” with the community.
“It was not to get to an end game, neither quickly, nor without discourse,” he said.
The development is reviving debate over the community’s fraught history with mineral exports, and about how to ensure future activity does not lead to more pollution, on land or in the water
“There’s certainly been a lot of legacy and residual contamination,” Skagway Mayor Orion Hanson said in an interview. “It’s something that I think we have to be very, very pragmatic and cautious [about] going forward, that we’re doing this in a safe way.”
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GLENFARNE, TOTALENERGIES SIGN ALASKA LNG OFFTAKE AGREEMENT
WASHINGTON, DC (February 26, 2026) – Glenfarne Group, LLC subsidiary Glenfarne Alaska LNG, LLC (Glenfarne), majority owner and developer of the Alaska LNG project, and TotalEnergies today announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the offtake of two million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Alaska LNG. The agreement was signed in a ceremony today in Washington, DC witnessed by U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich of Alaska.
“TotalEnergies is one of the most sophisticated LNG market participants in the world,” said Glenfarne Chief Executive Officer and Founder Brendan Duval. “Alaska LNG offers a unique Pacific orientation that complements TotalEnergies’ supply strategy and provides Asian customers with direct access to U.S. gas. We are proud to add another partner of their caliber to the project.”
“We look forward to offtaking LNG from Glenfarne’s Alaska LNG project. The Alaska LNG project is indeed very well geographically positioned to better serve our Asian customers. It also illustrates TotalEnergies’ ambition to consolidate its position as a leading buyer of U.S. LNG, while diversifying its supply sources. TotalEnergies is indeed very proud to have been the number one exporter of US LNG in 2025 with 19 MT representing 18% of the whole US production,” said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.
Glenfarne intends to contract 80%, or 16 MTPA, of Alaska LNG’s 20 MTPA volume to finance the project and now has 13 MTPA accounted for under preliminary long-term agreements with Total Energies, JERA, Tokyo Gas, CPC, PTT, and POSCO.
Worley Limited (ASX: Wor) completed primary FEED work on the Alaska LNG pipeline at the end of 2025 and has been provisionally named to provide Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management services for the Alaska LNG mainline. Alaska LNG has gas sales precedent agreements with North Slope natural gas producers including ExxonMobil, Hilcorp, and Great Bear Pantheon, and Letters of Intent to sell natural gas to ENSTAR Natural Gas, Alaska’s largest natural gas utility, and Donlin Gold Mine, one of the largest known undeveloped gold deposits in the world.
Alaska LNG consists of an 807-mile 42-inch pipeline to deliver natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to meet Alaska’s domestic needs and produce 20 MTPA of LNG for export. Glenfarne is developing Alaska LNG in two financially independent phases to accelerate project execution. Phase One includes the domestic pipeline to deliver natural gas to Alaskans. Phase Two will add the infrastructure to export LNG. Glenfarne owns 75% of Alaska LNG and the State of Alaska, through the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, owns 25%.
Oil Prices Surge 3.7% as U.S.-Iran Standoff Triggers Higher 2026 Forecasts
Michael Kern, OilPrice.Com, February 27, 2026
Economists and oil market analysts have hiked their oil price forecasts for 2026 amid rising geopolitical tensions and heightened war premium due to the U.S.-Iran standoff.
Both crude oil benchmarks are now expected to average above $60 per barrel this year, with price forecasts higher by about $1.50 per barrel compared to a month ago, the monthly Reuters poll showed on Friday.
Despite ongoing concerns about an oversupplied market, the 34 analysts and economists surveyed by Reuters in February raised their projections in view of uncertainties in how the Iran crisis would unfold in the coming weeks and months.
In the February poll, Brent Crude prices are expected to average $63.85 per barrel in 2026. This month’s estimate is higher compared to the January forecast of $62.02.
The analysts in the poll expect the U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, to average above $60 per barrel this year, too—at $60.38 a barrel, up from $58.72 expected in January.
Year to date, Brent price have averaged $70.48 per barrel and WTI – $65.01 a barrel.
Early on Friday, both benchmarks were trading 3% higher, with Brent near $73 and WTI at $67, after the United States and Iran adjourned the Thursday talks with plans for another round of negotiations next week.
Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, who was mediating the indirect talks in Geneva, said the parties had made “significant progress” in the nuclear talks. Next week, negotiations are set to be held in Vienna, Austria.
It is the ongoing U.S.-Iran standoff that has been the main driver of oil analysts in the Reuters poll to raise their oil price forecasts for this year.
Currently, the geopolitical risk premium already baked in the price of oil is about $4-$10 per barrel, analysts say.
The war premium, the OPEC+ supply policy, and the fundamentals in supply-demand balances will steer the direction of oil prices this year, they note.
by wp_sysadmin | Feb 25, 2026 | Home, News
Dems place early bet on Alaska
Stephen Neukam, Hans Nichols, Axios, February 24, 2026
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is placing an early and aggressive bet on Alaska: a $1 million investment to build out the party’s on-the-ground infrastructure, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The money is clear evidence that Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is convinced his path to the majority runs through Alaska — and that his plans are broader than just flooding the airwaves with TV ads.
- Schumer worked to convince former Rep. Mary Peltola to run for the Senate rather than governor. His outside political organization spent $1.3 million in soft money to let her know the waters were warm if she jumped in.
- Now Schumer’s official party apparatus is spending hard dollars to find and persuade a majority of the state’s 600,000 voters to support Peltola over two-term incumbent GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Between the lines: The Democrats’ first major investment in Alaska confronts the challenge of winning in an incredibly rural state, with voters scattered across enormous distances.
- The DSCC’s $1 million outlay will go toward a field program focused on building relationships with youth and Native voters, a source familiar with the plans told Axios. The money is also going toward “hyper-local” organizing and outreach.
- Peltola, who lost reelection to the House in 2024, is the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress. In her surprising 2022 House win, Peltola focused heavily on local issues, like the need to preserve the state’s struggling fisheries.
Reality check: Democrats haven’t come close to recapturing the Alaska Senate seat since losing it in 2014 to Sullivan, who cruised to reelection in 2020.
But Schumer is betting he can win again in Alaska. As DSCC chair, he flipped the state for Democrats in 2008, with Mark Begich on the ticket.
Begich’s election marked the first time since 1980 that a Democrat had represented Alaska in the Senate.
by wp_sysadmin | Feb 23, 2026 | Home, News
“Given Greenpeace’s questionable litigation strategies and the importance of Willow to Alaskan economic prosperity and American energy security, the Committee is keen to uncover the details of Greenpeace’s opposition to the project,” Representative Bruce Westerman, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, wrote in the letter. Similar notices were also sent to Earthjustice, Friends of the Earth and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
GOP Targets Environmental Groups Over $9 Billion Oil Project
Ari Nater, Bloomberg, February 20, 2026
House Republicans have launched an investigation into six environmental organizations over their opposition to a $9 billion oil project developed by ConocoPhillips in Alaska.
In letters made public Friday to the Center for Biological Diversity, the Defenders of Wildlife and other conservation groups, lawmakers said they were concerned about “coordination with other activist special interest groups” as well as the use of “lawfare strategies, including ethically dubious sue and settle tactics.”
The probe follows unsuccessful legal efforts to halt ConocoPhillips’ Willow project, which is expected to produce about 600 million barrels of crude over 30 years, with production set to begin in 2029.
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“We require Chugach and ENSTAR to file in this docket all information they possess related to LNG import facilities through which they propose to purchase LNG, including the projected costs to be recovered through rates from their customers,” the Feb. 4 order from the state regulatory commission says.
Alaska lawmakers and regulators question need for 2 gas import facilities in Southcentral
Alex DeMarban, Anchorage Daily News, February 20, 2026
State officials are moving to address concerns that the construction of two gas import projects will lead to higher utility bills in Southcentral Alaska.
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska recently opened an investigation to receive details from Enstar natural gas and Chugach Electric Association about their interest in separate projects.
The utilities are looking to import liquefied natural gas, or LNG, in the future as local production from the Cook Inlet basin peters out in the coming years.
Enstar, the natural gas company in Southcentral Alaska, has been working with Glenfarne, which is pursuing the construction of a new LNG import facility in Nikiski.
Glenfarne is also the developer of the proposed Alaska LNG megaproject that would deliver gas from Alaska’s North Slope, if it can be built, for delivery to urban Alaskans and exports overseas.
Meanwhile, Chugach Electric, Alaska’s largest power company, has said it’s looking at buying gas from a project led by Harvest Midstream, an affiliate of Hilcorp, the leading gas producer in Cook Inlet. That project, also in Nikiski, would convert a former LNG export facility into an import operation.
Both projects could cost hundreds of millions of dollars apiece.
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The global energy market is not a level playing field. Other nations subsidize production. They manipulate supply. They lock in long-term contracts and build for the next century, not the next two years. If we bury our own projects in environmental morass, legislative uncertainty, or regulatory overreach, we weaken ourselves and limit our children’s future. We risk short-term shortages and higher prices while a long-term solution and American energy dominance sit within reach.
Alaska’s Energy Future Is Within Reach, Don’t Regulate It Away
Guest Commentary – Representative Kevin McCabe
We should be planning for a century, not just for the next legislative session.
Alaskans have always known our potential as a resource state. The North Slope holds vast reserves of oil and natural gas. We have critical minerals the world needs. We can power our homes, heat our communities, and support good-paying jobs for decades. And we can help power America.
For too long, that promise has sat idle. Federal restrictions slowed us down. Global competitors moved aggressively. Outside activists would rather see Alaska locked up than developed. And at times, our own internal debates have kept projects from moving forward.
This year feels different. The Alaska LNG project is gaining real traction under Glenfarne’s leadership. We have an opportunity to bring North Slope gas south, lower energy costs in Southcentral, and position Alaska as a reliable supplier to our allies in Asia.
Phase One, the 800-mile pipeline, is moving from paper to action. Line pipe has been secured. In-state gas agreements are in place with producers such as Hilcorp and ExxonMobil. Construction partners are lined up. Preliminary commitments from major buyers in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan already cover more than half the export volume needed. The project completed its federal permitting work under the FAST-41 framework ahead of schedule, clearing a major hurdle and keeping the timeline intact. Early work could begin this spring, with mechanical completion targeted for 2028 and first in-state gas by 2029.
That is not speculation. That is measurable progress.
At the same time, Southcentral Alaska faces a serious Cook Inlet gas shortfall. Production is declining after decades of dependable supply. Utilities such as Chugach Electric and Enstar are preparing for LNG imports through Nikiski. One option would retrofit the former Kenai LNG facility, led by Harvest Midstream and Hilcorp, with gas targeted as soon as 2026. The other is a larger new-build facility connected to Glenfarne’s long-term plan, aiming for 2029 and capable of integrating into Alaska LNG.
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska, or RCA, is reviewing these proposals to prevent duplication and protect ratepayers from unnecessary costs. That oversight matters. If we build two overlapping import systems when one coordinated bridge would do the job, Alaskans could end up paying hundreds of millions more in utility bills.
Senate Bill 180, introduced through the Alaska Senate Resources Committee, would clarify RCA authority over import gas pricing. That is a practical step to protect consumers and ensure disciplined decision-making. Families should not shoulder the burden of disjointed planning. A smart approach would link near-term imports to Alaska LNG’s timeline so short-term fixes become long-term assets, not competing burdens.
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by wp_sysadmin | Feb 18, 2026 | Home, News
McKay started his oil industry career in Alaska in 1980, working on a platform in Cook Inlet for Amoco, which later merged with BP, he said. He retired from ConocoPhillips in 2015, but continued working in the industry, before serving four years in the Alaska House of Representatives, starting in 2021, he said.
Dunleavy appoints former state Rep. Tom McKay as oil and gas regulator
Alex DeMarban, Anchorage Daily News, February 17, 2026
Gov. Mike Dunleavy last month appointed former Republican Rep. Tom McKay to serve as the public member on the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
The quasi-judicial regulatory agency regulates oil and gas operations in Alaska.
McKay said in an interview on Tuesday that he’s a former drilling engineer with extensive experience working in Alaska.
McKay replaces Brett Huber Sr., a former senior policy advisor to Dunleavy who stepped down from the commission in mid-2024, after 1.5 years in the seat.
McKay said through his work in the industry, he’s familiar with the laws the commission enforces and has spent many months brushing up on that code.
“We need to continue our high level of performance with regard to safety and environmental issues and a low number of incidents,” he said of the commission. “We take a lot of pride in our being a world-class oil field up here, and I certainly would want to continue that. It’s sort of like our license to operate.”
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Paulson, with an 8.7% stake, had been the fourth-largest investor in Trilogy before he sold 14.3 million shares in the fourth quarter of 2025 through his investment firm Paulson & Co., according to filings.
Billionaire Paulson sells stake in Alaska-focused Trilogy Metals
Mining.Com, February 17, 2026
Billionaire hedge-fund manager John Paulson has sold his stake in Trilogy Metals Inc. after more than a decade as an investor in the Alaska-focused mining company, which recently secured US government backing.
The divestment comes as the White House moves to take a 10% stake in Trilogy, which is based in Vancouver but seeking to build a giant copper and zinc mine in Alaska, in partnership with Australia-based South32 Ltd. The investment plan was announced in October though the deal has yet to be completed.
Paulson, a longtime gold bug, has been a benefactor of Washington’s push to develop mining projects in the US. The investor holds stakes in Perpetua Resources Corp., which was designated a priority project by the administration of President Donald Trump, along with Novagold Resources Inc. in Alaska, where the government is pushing to expand resource extraction.
The comments from Lake come as FERC faces criticism over its high approval rate for gas projects and as the dominance council has positioned itself as a one-stop shop for energy projects. At the same event on Thursday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said “if you have not talked to [the dominance council], you need to.” Burgum chairs the council.
FERC commissioner to Trump admin: ‘Send me more LNG projects’ – E&E News by POLITICO (subscription required)
Carlos Anchondo, Francisco “A.J.” Camacho, February 17, 2026
Nearly halfway into his two-month stint as chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last year, Commissioner David Rosner told the National Energy Dominance Council he wanted more liquefied natural gas projects to review, according to one of the council’s leaders.
“When Commissioner Rosner was chairman for an interim period, right before Labor Day he called and said, ‘I want you to tell industry to send me more LNG projects. I cleared the last certificate off my desk,’” Peter Lake, senior director for power at the council, said last week.
Lake — who spoke at an event hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank — said much of the United States has hurt its economic outlook with “poor power grid policy.” Lake, a former chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, said Rosner told him last year, “I need more work. Send me more work.”
by wp_sysadmin | Feb 16, 2026 | Home, News
Every Presidents’ Day, we celebrate leadership — bold decisions, long views, and the willingness to shape a nation’s future. From an oil, gas, and mining perspective, it’s also a reminder that America’s strength has always been tied to what lies beneath our soil — and to the presidents who recognized its value.
From the earliest days of the republic, natural resources have fueled national growth. George Washington understood the importance of domestic industry to American independence. Ulysses S. Grant signed the General Mining Act of 1872, opening the West to mineral development that helped build railroads, cities, and the industrial backbone of the country.
In the 20th century, presidents increasingly recognized energy as a strategic asset. Franklin D. Roosevelt oversaw massive industrial mobilization during World War II — powered largely by American oil production
Here in Alaska, federal leadership has been especially consequential. The construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System followed decisive federal action that unlocked North Slope production and strengthened American energy security during turbulent times. That moment demonstrated something enduring: responsible resource development can align with national interests when policy, industry, and long-term vision converge.
Mining has followed a similar arc. From copper and gold that electrified and connected the nation to the critical minerals essential for today’s technologies, American presidents have repeatedly faced the same question: Will we source what we need at home, or depend on others?
Presidents’ Day is ultimately about stewardship. Oil, gas, and mining are not just industries — they are foundations of infrastructure, national defense, and economic opportunity. They fund schools and public services, sustain communities, and support high-paying jobs across the country.
Leadership in this space requires balance: encouraging investment, maintaining global competitiveness, safeguarding the environment, and ensuring that American workers and communities benefit. The presidents who have shaped resource policy understood that energy and mineral development is not a partisan issue — it is a strategic one.
As we look ahead, the conversation continues. The technologies are evolving. The markets are shifting. But the principle remains constant: a strong America depends on thoughtful leadership and the responsible development of its natural resources.
On Presidents’ Day, we honor not just the individuals who have held the office — but the long-term vision that recognizes the power, quite literally, beneath our feet.
