Natural gas rose to the top of the Alberta government’s economic recovery agenda in a plan announced Tuesday to reverse supply/demand declines that set in well before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“For more than 100 years, natural gas has been the cornerstone of Alberta’s energy economy,” said a provincial policy paper titled “Getting Alberta Back to Work: Natural Gas Vision and Strategy.”

“We will meet growing global demands for clean and sustainable energy,” said Premier Jason Kenney, as “this is a key part of Alberta’s recovery plan.”

The gas policy pledges to work with industry and federal government agencies to support petrochemical projects, liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, pipeline expansions, gas-fired power plants, hydrogen fuel development and...