A third LNG site for Prince Rupert?

We could soon be reaching back into the past when it comes to LNG development on the North Coast, with word today that the provincial government is seeking to auction off crown land north of Prince Rupert for potential LNG terminal development.

The Globe and Mail outlines the background on the proposed auction of land located 30 kilometres north of the Prince Rupert, near Lax Kw'alaams.

Longtime residents of the city will remember that back in the 1980's we had our first taste of the LNG dreams, when Dome Petroleum put Grassy Point up on a map as a proposed terminal for their own LNG  Development plans. Of course, those plans never came to fruition as Dome suffered financial troubles shortly after those plans were drawn up.

Now some thirty years later, everything old, may be new again. And considering the recent flurry of interest in the prospect of shipping LNG out of the North Coast, Dome's old blue prints may yet come out of storage.

The Globe article suggests that the province most likely would prefer to offer the land up on a long-term lease and highlights the important detail that back in the 1980's Dome had an agreement with Lax Kw'alaams that would allow the project to go ahead, something that may be of value as a blue print for a new development in that area.

The development of an LNG terminal near Lax Kw'alaams could usher in a new era of change for that community, including the much discussed road access to it and the ability to expand their industrial base in the community that would come with it.

Back in the days of the Dome proposal there was some consideration given that with development of an LNG terminal there would be a need to provide a road link to Highway 16, with a proposed crossing out past Butze rapids across and the inlet and then along the shoreline and on to Lax Kw'alaams.

The prospect of a third LNG project for the North Coast would seem to reinforce the BC Liberal Government's intentions to make the most out of the LNG sector and to make the North Coast a major participant in that industry.

With the provincial election on the horizon, the topic of that development could become one of the key discussion points during the election campaign (providing the Liberals ever get around to nominating a candidate).

With the NDP and their candidate on the North Coast Jennifer Rice, required to offer up some thoughts on what seems to be shaping up as an important issue for the riding.

You can review our archive of LNG related items from our archive page.