B.C. Premier David Eby made a stop in Kitimat July 30 to mark the first shipment of liquefied natural gas from the LNG Canada terminal last month to Asia, calling it a historic moment for both the province乌鸦传媒檚 economy and clean-energy ambitions.
乌鸦传媒淭he first shipments of made-in-B.C. energy across the Pacific come at a pivotal time for our province and the country we love,乌鸦传媒� Eby said. 乌鸦传媒淧rojects like LNG Canada are the reason that B.C. will be the economic engine of a more independent Canada. It creates good jobs, opportunities that let young people build a life here in the North and generates the revenue we need to improve public services everyone relies on.乌鸦传媒�
Despite growing anticipation, Eby confirmed that no final investment decision has been made for a second phase of the project.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e really excited about the potential for an LNG Canada Phase 2,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e in active conversations with LNG Canada and project proponents as well as with the federal government. We乌鸦传媒檙e hopeful to get the company to a final investment decision. There乌鸦传媒檚 no better value proposition for what the proponents are offering here.乌鸦传媒�
Eby said workers and residents had asked him repeatedly about the timeline.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 very much looking forward to coming back here and making the announcement of an LNG Canada Phase 2,乌鸦传媒� he added.
Eby said the province recognizes the economic potential of expansion乌鸦传媒攑articularly for funding public services乌鸦传媒攂ut acknowledged the company is still seeking further policy clarity.
乌鸦传媒淭hose are the conversations that we乌鸦传媒檙e having, and in my opinion the conversation is going well and we乌鸦传媒檙e hoping to get a final investment decision that will benefit everyone.乌鸦传媒�
LNG Canada president and CEO Chris Cooper said attention is currently focused on stabilizing operations for Phase 1, which he described as a "key enabler" for Phase 2.
乌鸦传媒淩eally it乌鸦传媒檚 just a case of finding the right balance between affordability, competitiveness and environment,乌鸦传媒� Cooper said. 乌鸦传媒淥nce we find that solution space, with the springboard that Phase 1 gives us, we乌鸦传媒檒l be happy to move forward with an FID. That乌鸦传媒檚 what we乌鸦传媒檙e chasing.乌鸦传媒�
The Kitimat terminal is now operational and represents the largest private-sector investment in Canadian history, with $40 billion allocated toward the terminal and associated infrastructure. Approximately $6 billion in contracts have gone to B.C. and Indigenous businesses. At peak construction, the site employed more than 9,000 skilled workers, and has created over 300 permanent jobs in Kitimat.
Eby defended the industry from environmental critics who say LNG development carries too many trade-offs and is subsidized by taxpayers.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 60 per cent lower carbon than the average LNG plant in the world. It is 40 per cent lower carbon than the best plants in the world. Which means that when we乌鸦传媒檙e shipping to [Asia] these countries are meaningfully able to reduce their own carbon footprint,乌鸦传媒� Eby said.
He pointed to strong interest expressed during his recent trade mission to Asia.
乌鸦传媒淐anada can be part of the solution by bringing our resources to market,乌鸦传媒� he said.
Eby乌鸦传媒檚 Kitimat stop followed a visit to nearby Kitamaat Village the day before, where he and Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions Adrian Dix announced a $200 million infrastructure package for the Haisla-majority-owned Cedar LNG project. The funding will support construction of a 287-kilovolt transmission line, substation and other components to connect the floating LNG terminal to the provincial power grid.
乌鸦传媒淏ritish Columbia will produce some of the lowest-emission LNG in the world. It is imperative that we get our clean-energy resources to global markets so that we can deliver a stronger, more diversified economy for people and communities to benefit from,乌鸦传媒� Dix said.
