April 17, 2007
BHP Billiton versus James Bond
Mining and energy group BHP Billiton has not yet scrapped ideas of building California’s first terminal for imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to The Times of London, despite its plan being rejected by a second state regulator. A glamorous group of protestors, including Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry and Cindy Crawford, contend that the $800m offshore regasification project will cause damage to ocean mammals and birds and prove an eyesore for residents of Malibu. In what could be an intriguing clash of Hollywood tough guys, Californian governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar has implicitly backed the project, saying that LNG "should be part of California’s energy portfolio".
