VANCOUVER, April 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Progress Energy Canada Ltd. (PECL) and Pacific NorthWest LNG (PNW LNG) are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Anuar Taib, EVP and CEO PETRONAS Upstream as Chairman of the Board of both PECL and PNW LNG. Mr. Taib brings over twenty years of international energy experience to the companies.

Mr. Michael Culbert will step down from day to day responsibilities as President of PNW LNG and continue with his leadership position with PECL as President and CEO. Mr. Culbert will also continue to serve as a Director on the Boards of both PECL and PNW LNG. Mr. Culbert has also been appointed the PETRONAS Country Chair for Canada with oversight responsibilities for PETRONAS activities.

"I would like to thank Mr. Culbert for his steady hand throughout the regulatory phase at Pacific NorthWest LNG over the past 19 months," said Mr. Taib. "The next year is a critical juncture for Progress Energy Canada and requires Mr. Culbert's full-time attention to the company's upstream activities at a time of uncertain market conditions."

Mr. Adnan Zainal Abidin is appointed President and CEO of PNW LNG. Mr. Zainal Abidin has spent his career with PETRONAS and brings the LNG project management and construction expertise required for the next phase of the Pacific NorthWest LNG project.

"Adnan brings decades of LNG construction and operations expertise to Pacific NorthWest LNG's growing team," Mr. Taib continued. "Pacific NorthWest LNG's transition to the construction phase of the project is in good hands with Adnan."

Backgrounder (below): Biography – Adnan Zainal Abidin

About Pacific NorthWest LNG
Pacific NorthWest LNG is planning to build a world-scale LNG export facility on Lelu Island in the District of Port Edward, British Columbia. The proposed facility will comprise an initial development of two LNG trains of approximately 6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) each, and a subsequent development of a third train of approximately 6 MTPA. The proposed facility would liquefy and export natural gas produced by Progress Energy Canada in northeastern British Columbia. Pacific NorthWest LNG is committed to generating new economic and social benefits for the local community and First Nations, British Columbia and Canada in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner. Pacific NorthWest LNG is majority-owned by PETRONAS. JAPEX, Sinopec/Huadian, Indian Oil and PetroleumBRUNEI are also partners in Pacific NorthWest LNG and its associated natural gas supply. For more information about Pacific NorthWest LNG, please visit www.PacificNorthWestLNG.com.

About Progress Energy Canada Ltd.
Progress Energy Canada, a leader in Canadian natural gas development, is building upon its history of performance excellence in North America to pioneer new infrastructure for delivering LNG to Pacific Rim markets. Producing natural gas in northeast British Columbia and northwest Alberta, Progress Energy is serving Canadian markets and developing productive capacity on its extensive Montney land holdings in preparation for the opening of new LNG markets in Asia. Progress Energy is wholly owned by PETRONAS of Malaysia, a global leader in LNG and the majority owner of Vancouver-based Pacific NorthWest LNG Ltd. Progress and Pacific NorthWest LNG are helping craft a bright new future for Canada's energy exports. www.progressenergy.com

BACKGROUNDER – BIOGRAPHY

Adnan Zainal Abidin

Adnan Zainal Abidin, is the Vice President of Global LNG Projects, Upstream Business, PETRONAS. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

Adnan joined PETRONAS in 1984 and started his career with ASEAN Bintulu Fertilizer (ABF) as a Trainee Engineer. He served ABF until July 1995 before moved to PETRONAS Fertilizer Kedah Sdn Bhd in August 1995 as the Process Manager. In July 1997, he then was assigned to become the Project Manager of the PETRONAS Ammonia project. In June 2000, he was appointed as General Manager at PETRONAS Ammonia and later became the Chief Executive Officer in January 2005. From January 2006 to May 2010, En Adnan was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Egyptian LNG, a joint venture company between PETRONAS, BG Group, EGAS and EGPC. He was appointed to the current position of Vice President, Global LNG Projects in June 2010.

Adnan is on the board of the MLNG Group of Companies, Pacific NorthWest LNG Ltd, PETRONAS Carigali Canada, PICL Egypt as well as several companies within PETRONAS group. He is also the Chairman of PETRONAS Australia Private Limited (PAPL) and the Chairman of PETRONAS LNG Sdn Bhd (PLSB) Board Audit Committee.

SOURCE Pacific NorthWest LNG Ltd.