Nisga'a reach agreement on gas pipeline and keep their own LNG ambitions on track

An agreement between the Nisga'a Lisims Government and Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Limited, will provide a route of transit for gas from Hudson Hope in Northeastern BC, to the proposed Pacific NorthWest LNG Terminal project at Lelu Island.

The two groups announced the terms of their arrangement on Wednesday, with the provincial government hailing the moment as another step for the Nisga'a Lisims government and people to become more involved in the province's developing LNG industry.

A full review of that arrangement can be found from the Nisga'a Lisims Government website .

Further information related to Wednesday's agreement can also be reviewed from the Government of British Columbia website.

As part of the agreement, the executive of the Nisga'a Lisims Government passed a resolution on the rights of way for a portion of the project through Nisga'a Lands,  as well as an endorsement of a amendment to the Lava Bed Park boundary that would allow the pipeline to travel along a 12 kilometre corridor through the Park generally adjacent to the Nisga'a Highway corridor.  In total, the pipeline will transit 85 kilometres of land in Nisga'a territory.

Map of the proposed pipeline through Nisga'a land
(photo from Nisga'a Lisims website)

An overview of the progress of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project can be found here.

While the arrangement will in the short term provide for a path to Prince Rupert for the pipeline company and Pacific NorthWest LNG, for the Nisga'a it also sets in place infrastructure for any future LNG development on Nisga'a land.

A key portion of the agreement specifies how the Nisga'a Nation has the option to secure PRGT expansion capacity, for use by an LNG developer who would locate an LNG facility at a site on or near Nisga'a lands.

As we outlined earlier this year, the Nisga'a have also been showing interest in entering the process of LNG terminal development, having outlined some of the available locations on Nisga'a land through their website.

You can review some of those plans from our archive page.

Aurora LNG receives export authorization from National Energy Board

Another of the North Coast's hopeful LNG shippers has been given approval to export Liquefied Natural Gas from the North Coast.

As Aurora LNG, received authorization for exports from the National Energy Board on Friday.

A letter dated October 24th outlines the terms and conditions for the Export Licence for Aurora, which would permit the Chinese owned company ship exports from a proposed Liquefaction Terminal to be located in the vicinity of Prince Rupert.

The export licence issued on Friday will expire 10 years from the date of its approval, which was October 8th.

Aurora LNG has two potential sites in mind for it's North Coast terminal development, one a proposed development at Grassy Point near Lax Kw'alaams.

While the other option was only recently revealed, and would see the company construct Terminal Facilities on the south end of Digby Island.

As we outlined on September 24th, that latter proposal has provided for a bit of controversy for the company, with residents of nearby Dodge Cove expressing their dissatisfaction at possibly sharing Digby Island with a major industrial project.

Both the Grassy Point and Digby Island proposals are currently in early stages of their Environmental Assessment process, however at some point only one of the two will be listed as the final option to be considered.

You can review more about the two options here.

While a larger overview Aurora LNG's plans for the region can be found on our Archive page.