EMD01-17

TITLES DIVISION

SUBJECT:      REQUEST FOR PROVINCIAL PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS RIGHTS WITHIN THE MERRITT AND SIMILKAMEEN (PRINCETON AND TULAMEEN) COALFIELD REGIONS

The Ministry of Energy and Mines is interested in facilitating exploration and development of coalbed methane in the Southern region of the Province.  Ministry staff has met with community representatives including town councils, business groups and First Nations and has held public open houses to explain how coalbed methane is produced and the potential benefits and impacts of development.

The ministry has previously received a number of expressions of interest in acquiring petroleum and natural gas rights for the development of coalbed methane in the Merritt and Similkameen (Princeton and Tulameen) coalfields.  The ministry is now inviting requests for specific parcels of provincial rights.  These parcels will be included for competitive bid at the earliest regularly scheduled disposition of provincial petroleum and natural gas rights, once title research and all internal reviews have been completed.

It is the Province's position that coalbed methane is natural gas and is therefore regulated under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act.  For further information regarding Provincial policy on coalbed methane and Crown Reserve bidding procedures, interested parties should refer to:  Information Letter EMD99-05 - Coalbed Methane Policy; TITLES-03-02 - 2003/2004 Petroleum and Natural Gas Rights Disposition Dates; and EMD00-05 - Amended Crown Reserve Bidding Procedures. 

Further information on coalbed methane may be found at:

For further information contact:

Gerald German
Executive Director
Titles Division
PO Box 9326, Stn Prov Gov't
6th floor, 1810 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC  V8W 9N3

Telephone:  250-952-0334
Facsimile:  250-952-0331
E-Mail:  Gerald.German@gov.bc.ca

Endorsed by
Assistant Deputy Minister
2001 12 11