Approval process begins for Prince Rupert LNG terminal

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. — WestPac LNG Corp. is proposing to build a $350 million dollar Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) receipt and transshipment terminal on Ridley Island, an industrial park 11 km outside of the northern port city of Prince Rupert, B.C.

The Calgary-based company has formally begun the environmental assessment and regulatory review process by filing its Project Description with the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

“When built, our terminal will provide the Northwest Coast, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of BC with access to a reliable supply of natural gas that should contribute to future economic development and power possibilities,” says Mark Butler, President of WestPac.

WestPac earlier entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prince Rupert Port Authority for a 30-year lease, with a provision for three, ten-year extensions, with the Port for 100 hectares on Ridley Island adjacent to existing grain and coal shipping terminals.

The Project will include a new marine berthing facility with transfer piping to onshore LNG storage tanks; two to four onshore LNG storage tanks; a natural gas liquids extraction facility, with storage; infrastructure for barge, rail car and truck, LNG and natural gas liquids loading; and LNG re-gasification facilities with a capacity of up to 130 million cubic feet per day.

The Prince Rupert LNG terminal will create at least 300 jobs during construction and about 30 full time jobs once operational in 2011.

The LNG terminal will help meet future demand for natural gas and electricity in BC and across North America at a time when costs are rising and reserves are decreasing, the company says.