B.C. LNG project in Tsawwassen to be voted on by First Nation
Tsawwassen First Nation to vote in December on export facility
The Tsawwassen First Nation will proceed with a vote on plans to build an LNG export facility just north of the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, it announced on Monday.
"The preliminary concept looks at a plan somewhere between three million and five million metric tonnes per annum," said Tsawwassen First Nation spokesman Chris Hartman.
"In terms of tanker traffic associated with that, probably somewhere in the range of four to five LNG carriers a month, or about one a week."
- Lelu Island LNG project divides First Nations as protest continues
- Steelhead LNG's Vancouver Island projects get export licence approval
- B.C. government rejects reports of Petronas LNG project delay
- LNG plant near Squamish clears first hurdle in environmental assessment
The proposed LNG facility would be built on 32 hectares of Tsawwassen First Nations territory that is currently zoned for industrial development, said Hartman.
He added the project would be smaller than proposed projects in northern parts of the province, but larger than the proposed Woodfibre LNG project near Squamish.
The Tsawwassen facility would consist of storage tanks, liquefaction units, and a power substation. A pipeline to the marine terminal at nearby Robert Banks would also have to be built.
The project promises 1,000 jobs during the construction phase, and 50 to 100 permanent, well-paying jobs during operations.
Voting in December
The nearly 300 band members will vote on Dec. 16 whether or not to proceed with the plan.
"I look forward to what the membership has to say and what direction they would like to pursue," said Tsawwassen Chief Bryce Williams.
"Whatever they decide I will definitely be supporting either concept."
If Tsawwassen First Nation members approve the plan, it will still need environmental approval from the provincial and federal governments, and likely wouldn't be running until 2022.
Earlier in the day, B.C. Premier Christy Clark visited a FortisBC LNG facility — also in Delta, on Tillbury Road — that's been in place since 1971 and is currently being expanded at a cost of $400 million.
Construction on the expansion project began in 2014 and is expected to be completed by 2016.
With files from Dan Burritt