Pacific NorthWest LNG looking to 2016 start for Terminal project

Pacific NorthWest LNG officials
have said pending CEAA and Federal
Government approval, the Port Edward
project could be underway in 2016

While there may be a few challenges along the way (both physical and legal it would appear) the proponents of an LNG terminal at Lelu Island near Port Edward are still optimistic of a 2016 start for the Pacific NorthWest LNG project.

Speaking to the Globe and Mail's Brent Jang at this this weeks LNG in BC conference in Vancouver, Michael Culbert from Pacific NorthWest LNG outlined the road forward for the project that would ship LNG to Asia through the North Coast.

While still awaiting the ruling from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and final approvals of the Federal Government, Pacific NorthWest suggest that they are "shovel ready" to move forward, once they receive approval and the required permits. A move which if it all comes together would signal the start of what would be the first LNG development to actually put a shovel in the ground to this point in the Prince Rupert region.

That CEAA ruling is anticipated to arrive sometime in 2016, while any Federal Government approval will be dependent on which Government takes office on Monday and where they sit when it comes to LNG terminal development in British Columbia.

In the wide ranging article with the Globe and Mail writer, the Pacific NorthWest LNG head offered up a number of thoughts on the recent moves of the Lax Kw'alaams First Nation to seek a title claim to Lelu Island and Flora Bank. 

As well, he reviewed some of the changes to infrastructure on the project, in addition to the scientific work that they have undertaken to try and address some of the outstanding concerns.

The full item from the Globe can be viewed here, providing a fair bit of background to a number of the current issues in front of the LNG proponents.

While Pacific NorthWest LNG awaits the end of the election cycle and further news from the CEAA, they will also have to address a new court challenge to their proposed development.

As we outlined yesterday, some members of the Gitxsan First Nation in the Hazleton's area have begun their own court challenge against the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Line, related to plans from TransCanada Corporation to bring a pipeline across their territory to feed the Lelu Island plant in Port Edward.

During this week's LNG conference, Energy Minister Rich Coleman remained optimistic that the Liberal Government's LNG plans will still prove successful, suggesting that five plants are still a realistic goal for the province by 2020.

He also had some thoughts related to the North Coast developments related to LNG, Lelu Island and events related to Lax Kw'alaams, noting that the First Nations community has its own election coming up in November.

On the theme of Pacific NorthWest LNG he offered up his understanding of their dedication to the Lelu Island site, suggesting to have to go back and start over would provide for too large a setback to their planning.

You can review more on his overview on the LNG file from this item from the Vancouver Sun.