A Malaysian news outlet, The Malaysian Insider, is reporting that B.C. Finance Minister Michael de Jong has told Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that construction on the Petronas-led Pacific NorthWest LNG export terminal in Port Edward should begin this September.
According to the report released Monday, de Jong, while thanking the Prime Minister for providing the project with sound political leadership for the Malaysian-owned Petronas, mentioned that shovels should hit the ground "this fall".
"All other prerequisites have been dealt with," de Jong is quoted as saying.
"Our central government environmental certificate is the remaining piece to this and we are working through that exercise. We are optimistic that in the very near future it will be concluded."
The terminal, due to be located on Lelu Island, has met with some opposition by the Tsimshian Coastal First Nation, Lax Kw'alaams Band, who claim the territory is vital to the salmon-spawning cycle and whose eelgrass environment could be tarnished by the terminal.
Pacific NorthWest LNG responded to those concerns with plans for a modified export facility that includes a bridge extending past Flora Bank, which is the location of the eelgrass meadows.
The environmental assessment by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is expected to be due in the coming weeks or months.