A review of the $12bn Pacific NorthWest LNG project by Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has found that it may harm environment due to greenhouse gas emission and harbour porpoises but it will not adversely affect salmon.
The report found that majority of concerns related to impacts to marine fish and fish habitat, country foods, and aboriginal use of lands and resources.
The project will primarily have an impact on fish and fish habitat, greenhouse gas emissions, effects from air emissions, and cumulative effects.
Pacific NorthWest LNG is proposing the construction and operation of the new project to be located primarily on federal lands and waters administered by the Prince Rupert Port Authority about 15km south of Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
The facility would be used for the liquefaction, storage, and export of liquefied natural gas and will receive about 3.2 billion standard ft³ per day of pipeline grade natural gas, and produce up to 19.2 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for over 30 years, at full production.
As part of the project, the company plans to construct and operate a marine terminal for loading LNG on to vessels for export to Pacific Rim markets in Asia.
The project involves activities that are described in the Regulations Designating Physical Activities and is subject to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012).
It will also include the construction, operation, and decommissioning of a new fossil-fired electrical generating facility, a new facility for the liquefaction, storage or regasification of liquefied natural gas, and a new marine terminal.
Pacific NorthWest LNG is majority-owned by Petronas with Sinopec, Japan Petroleum Exploration Company, India Oil, and PetroleumBRUNEI as minority shareholders.
