A long ballyhooed LNG export terminal on the west coast of Canada may yet move forward as sponsor Petronas looks at a revamp to appease environmental concerns.
The original design of the $27bn Pacific Northwest LNG project called for installation of a suspension bridge linking the processing trains on Lelu Island to the marine loading infrastructure. The suspension bridge would allow passage of fishing vessels.
But British Columbia's indigenous tribes have raised objections over the bridge due to concerns about its environmental impact.
Bloomberg reports, though, that Petronas is considering extending a pipeline to existing docking facilities at neighboring Ridley Island. That proposal would eliminate the need for the suspension bridge, saving the project some $1bn in costs.
Ridley Island, which currently has a coal export terminal, is also the location of a proposed LPG export terminal from AltaGas. Ridley is also the site of breakbulk terminals.
Last year, Petronas' head of upstream development said the company "would like to reaffirm its commitment to deliver long term LNG supply to its customers through the Pacific NorthWest LNG project in Canada," despite the lengthy environmental review process and the current weak state of Pacific Basin LNG prices.
Petronas is reportedly considering a final investment decision in early 2017 on the project. The plant would produce 19.2 million metric tonnes per year of LNG and provide one of the closest supply sources to the primary LNG buyers in Asia.
