WestPac plans Texada Island LNG terminal

Aug. 6, 2007
WestPac LNG Corp., Calgary, plans to invest $2 billion to build an LNG terminal combined with a natural gas-fired electric power generation plant on Texada Island, 120 km northwest of Vancouver, BC.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 6 -- WestPac LNG Corp., Calgary, plans to invest $2 billion to build an LNG terminal combined with a natural gas-fired electric power generation plant on Texada Island, 120 km northwest of Vancouver, BC. The project is expected to be operational in 2013.

Facilities will include a marine jetty and berthing facility capable of unloading and loading ships of 20,000 cu m to 165,000 cu m; possibly two onshore LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 165,000 cu m; a gas-fired power generation facility with a capacity of 1,200 Mw from two trains; and an on-site interconnection with the existing Terasen gas pipeline from the mainland to Vancouver Island.

Project design is still being finalized and could entail only one storage tank with capacity of 200 million cu m, a WestPac spokesman told OGJ.

The company intends to file a project description with regulatory agencies later this year. Construction is scheduled to start in 2009 and continue for 3 years.

WestPac has acquired a long-term lease at Kiddie Point at the north end of Texada Island. This proposed Texada LNG site is in an industrial area and the site is a secure source for natural gas with minimal environmental impact, WestPac said.

WestPac said the Texada Island project also could enhance air quality in the Fraser Valley by allowing BC Hydro to decommission its Burrard thermal power generator, which it currently depends on for peak-demand power supply.

Separately, WestPac has been conducting environmental assessment work for a proposed LNG receipt and transshipment terminal at Ridley Island near Prince Rupert. The Ridley facility will not proceed immediately, but the location could play a future role as a second terminus to serve the north coast when gas demand reaches new levels, Westpac said.