For WCC LNG, it's Prince Rupert or bust.
As reported in the Northern Connector, WCC LNG is in discussions with the city to see if it is feasible to locate a terminal on the harbour front. The company, a partnership between Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil, had filed its export licence application with the National Energy Board for a terminal "in the vicinity of either Kitimat or Prince Rupert", but plans to locate in Kitimat are no longer on the radar.
"Our current focus is on assessing the suitability of the site at Tuck Inlet," explained Imperial Oil media relations advisor Leanne Dohy.
While the zoning still needs to be approved by the city, Dohy said the company still has much work to do as well.
“We continue to make progress on the various elements that would be needed for an LNG project, including pipeline provider proposals, permitting and facility design, as well as assessing the site,” she said, noting the time frame to ship LNG is still a long way off.
“A final investment decision will be made following government and regulatory approvals and will be based on a range of factors, including fiscal and economic competitiveness, future market conditions and LNG sales agreements. If developed, the first export of LNG is anticipated to be in the 2021-2023 time-frame depending on the pace of regulatory approvals and a final investment decision.”
Dohy said Imperial Oil is looking forwarded to progressing the terminal in the years ahead.
“We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with the City of Prince Rupert and look forward to working with local and regional governments, First Nations and other community stakeholders,” she said.
The WCC LNG project, which has already received an export licence for 30 million tonnes of LNG per year, brings the number of terminals proposed to the North Coast to five with Pacific NorthWest LNG, the BG Group, Woodside LNG and Aurora LNG being the others.