Nisga'a Nation, Rockies LNG LP, and Western LNG LLC on Aug. 10, 2021, began the 45-day public comment period on their proposed 12-million tonne/year Ksi Lisims floating LNG (FLNG) liquefaction plant at Wil Milit on Pearse Island on the northwest coast of British Columbia. Project partners expect commercial operations to begin late 2027 or early 2028. Expected project life is at least 30 years.
Ksi Lisims FLNG will convert natural gas from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin of northeastern British Columbia and northwest and central Alberta to LNG. Natural gas will be transported to the site via a pipeline originating in northeastern British Columbia. The project will select either TC Energy Corp.’s proposed Prince Rupert Gas Transmission system or Enbridge Inc.’s proposed Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission system to deliver gas to the plant. Both pipeline projects currently have valid British Columbia environmental assessment certificates and approved routes from northeastern British Columbia to its northwest coast.
At full build-out, Ksi Lisims FLNG will receive 1.7-2.0 bcfd of natural gas. Its proponents are targeting net-zero carbon operations within 3 years of start-up. This will be achieved, according to developers, once the project connects to the BC Hydro and Power Authority renewable power grid, in combination with a monitoring and measurement program, design elements intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, an operating culture focused on low emissions, purchase of carbon offsets and the potential for carbon capture and sequestration.
The project is subject to a federal impact assessment process under Canada’s Impact Assessment Act and a provincial environmental assessment under British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Act. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Office are working cooperatively for the initial phase of the project's review.
The public comment period ends Sept. 24, 2021.
