JUNEAU, Alaska, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- China has a role to play in the Alaskan plans to develop its oil and natural gas ambitions, said Alaskan Lt. Gov. Craig Campbell.
Alaska's Republican Gov. Sean Parnell said he would invite Chinese investors to the state following a trip to the region by Campbell in December.
Parnell in his January state of the state address said "gushers" in the Prudhoe Bay and Point Thomson regions of the North Slope require an ambitious effort to exploit.
The plans come as international exploration companies said they could slow efforts in Alaska and look for economic benefits elsewhere.
"As North Slope oil production continues to decline, we must work diligently to find additional economic development opportunities," said Campbell in a statement from his office. "Now is the time to significantly increase our marketing efforts in Asia."
Alaska needs investors to back its plans to build a gas pipeline in the state to market the gas potential in the North Slope.
TransCanada and Denali, a joint venture between BP and ConocoPhillips, are competing to develop a natural gas pipeline from the Alaskan North Slope to the Lower 48 states.
"Alaska could become a significant partner with China in the development of value-added products from our natural gas resources, produced here in Alaska," said Campbell.
Exxon Mobil said developing Point Thomson gas fields in Alaska's North Slope would push developments of the pipeline.
