Shell-led LNG Project Gets Environmental Nod in Canada

Canada's environment ministry said on Wednesday it has approved a Royal Dutch Shell (RYDAF)-led liquefied natural gas export terminal proposed for British Columbia's Pacific Coast, contingent on the project meeting 50 conditions on monitoring its impact.

 

In her decision, federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq concluded that the environmental effects of the proposed LNG Canada project "are justified in the circumstances".

 

She said the project would create thousands of jobs and contribute billions of dollars to the economy.

 

The province of British Columbia also issued an environmental certificate for the export terminal on Wednesday, listing 24 conditions, including monitoring its environmental impact and ongoing consultation with aboriginal people and local communities.

 

Shell's LNG Canada project, which is expected to have cost as much as C$40 billion ($32.7 billion) when complete, is one of 19 such projects proposed for the British Columbia coast as companies from around the world look to export cheap Canadian gas to energy-hungry markets in Asia.

 

A consortium led by Malaysian state-owned energy company Petronas gave a conditional go-ahead last week for its Pacific NorthWest LNG project, which is still in the federal environmental review process.

 

Shell is developing the LNG Canada project with PetroChina Co Ltd, Korea Gas Corp and Mitsubishi Corp.