Several BC LNG syndicates are nearing, or appear to be nearing, final investment decisions, but they will need all significant regulatory approvals before those decisions are made. The most significant regulatory approvals for a BC LNG project are: (1) a National Energy Board (NEB) export licence; and (2) an environmental assessment certificate issued under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and/or British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Act (BCEA).
For the three BC LNG projects which are generally assumed to be closest to reaching final investment decisions, the status of their regulatory approvals are as follows:
|
Project |
NEB |
CEAA |
BCEA |
Pipeline |
|
Woodfibre |
Approved |
BCEA |
Under |
Under |
|
Douglas Channel |
Under |
N/A |
N/A |
Approved |
|
Pacific NorthWest |
Approved |
Under |
Approved |
Approved |
In March 2014, Woodfibre received an NEB export licence to export 3.42 billion cubic meters (BCM) of LNG annually over a 25 year period, which is sufficient to support its proposed exports of 2.1 million tons per annum (MTPA).
Jonathan Drance and Brandon Mewhort – Â CANADIAN ENERGY LAW – JUNE 9, 2015.
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