Image: Devyn Perryman
Image: Devyn Perryman

Read the statement from Woodfibre LNG Limited…


 
SQUAMISH, BC — Woodfibre LNG Limited announced today that the Woodfibre LNG Project has received environmental approval from the federal government. In Ottawa, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna issued a decision statement under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, stating that the Woodfibre LNG Project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. The federal decision follows the October 2015 provincial approval of the project, and concludes the project’s environmental assessment review process.

 

The Woodfibre LNG Project is a modestly-sized liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing and export facility, located at the former Woodfibre pulp mill site, about seven kilometres southwest of Squamish, British Columbia.
 
“Receiving federal environmental approval marks the conclusion of more than two and a half years of intensive work by the Woodfibre LNG team and our engineering, environmental, and shipping consultants,” said Byng Giraud, Country Manager and Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Woodfibre LNG Limited, “something every member of the Woodfibre LNG team can be proud of.”
 
“What I am equally proud of is how our conversations in the community to better understand local priorities and our work with First Nations have informed the project so we can build a better project, for Squamish and BC.”
 
The Woodfibre LNG project underwent a substituted environmental assessment process, whereby the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) coordinated the review process on behalf of both the EAO and the Canadian Environment Assessment Agency.
 
On October 26, 2015, the EAO issued an Environmental Assessment Certificate to Woodfibre LNG Limited for its proposed Woodfibre LNG project.
 
The project must meet all provincial and federal requirements, including environmental assessment conditions related to pre-construction, construction, operation, and decommissioning, to responsibly manage potential effects associated with the proposed project.
 
The Woodfibre LNG site is located on the traditional territory of Squamish Nation. On October 14, 2015, Squamish Nation Council announced it had approved an Environmental Assessment Agreement and issued a Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Certificate for the Woodfibre LNG project. The agreement includes legally binding conditions that Woodfibre LNG Limited is required to meet for the project to move forward.
 
“In truth, the real work is just beginning for our project team,” said Giraud. “We now have to take all the conditions from the three environmental reviews and ensure they are incorporated in the detailed design work and planning for construction and operation of the Woodfibre LNG project.”
 
BACKGROUND
 
About Woodfibre LNG Limited
 
Woodfibre LNG Limited is proposing to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing and export facility at the former Woodfibre Pulp and Paper Mill near Squamish, BC. The site features a deep water port, access to a FortisBC pipeline network and BC Hydro transmission lines, is zoned industrial and has been used as an industrial site for about 100 years.
 
The Woodfibre LNG project comprises construction and operation of a gas processing and liquefaction facility to produce approximately 2.1 million tonnes per annum of LNG, associated storage capacity of 250,000 m3, and export infrastructure. Its estimated capital cost is $1.4 – 1.8 billion (CAD 2014) .
 
Economic Benefits
 
Woodfibre LNG will bring responsible economic development to Squamish and the region. The project will create an estimated 650+ jobs per year of the two year construction period and 1,080+ jobs in indirect and induced employment during the construction phase. The project will also provide 100+ local jobs and 330+ local jobs in indirect and induced employment during operation.
 
In addition to good paying jobs, the Woodfibre LNG project will bring an estimated $83.7 million in tax revenue for all three levels of government during the construction phase of the project, and an estimated $86.5 million in tax revenue for all three levels of government each year of operation.
 
Doing our part to combat climate change
 
Community consultation has led to meaningful changes to the project, including the decision to power the liquefaction plant with electricity from BC Hydro.
 
By powering the facility with electricity instead of natural gas, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by about 80%, and make Woodfibre LNG one of the cleanest LNG facilities in the world.
 
For more information about the project, please visit Woodfibrelng.ca or send an email to info@woodfibrelng.ca