Tsawwassen First Nations pitches LNG terminal

VANCOUVER -Members of the Tsawwassen First Nation in suburban Vancouver will vote next month on plans for a liquefied natural gas export facility on their lands near Delta, B.C. The First Nation has issued a release saying consultation with its members is underway before a vote on December 16.

Tsawwassen Chief Bryce Williams said the project could have “tremendous benefits” for the local economy and for B.C.as a whole.

To date, Fortis says its project has generated more than 65,000 hours of employment and provided apprenticeship and First Nations training.

But Williams acknowledged there are a few “negative impacts” to think about, namely how the LNG is extracted.

He noted that the plant would be run by electricity, would use an existing deep port and would require little pipeline expansion, as it’s near an existing pipe system.

“I think it would be fantastic”, she said.

“The storage facility would link to a vessel-loading facility at Roberts Bank via a new pipeline”, the Tsawwassen First Nation said, noting that it has selected industrial property on its land for the planned LNG site.

Five to six LNG carriers would dock at Deltaport to load LNG from the TFN plant, in contrast to the Wespac jetty proposal, which would see LNG carriers ply the lower Fraser River.

The project would occupy 32 hectares of treaty land the TFN have already zoned for industry and would likely otherwise be developed as warehousing.

The announcement of the proposed LNG export facility came as the premier promoted an expansion of FortisBC’s $400-million Tilbury LNG project.

“Global demand for LNG is growing all around the world, especially in Asia, and I know that global prices are now low, but we have an incredible opportunity in front of us”.