A few weeks ago I was enjoying a summer break.
Coffee in hand, I was scanning the newspaper when I saw an ad by the National Energy Board (NEB). It was about exporting Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) from Delta! Having read about many and various proposals for LNG from Kitimat and Prince Rupert, I was curious.
A major LNG export operation from Delta?
Some months ago I reported on the expansion of LNG at the FortisBC plant on Tilbury Island. Fortis supplies our natural gas and has recently decided to offer LNG to commercial truckers and was looking for other applications.
The NEB ad announced that a new organization was in the business. Called Wespac Midstream - Vancouver LLC, it is owned by Wespac Midstream LLC, which is owned by Investment firms, Primoris Construction and employees, all based in Texas. If you don't recognize the names, other names may appear as these entities broker their business. Wespac, a US partnership developing LNG facilities, is applying to export massive amounts of Canadian LNG for 25 years.
Under the new NEB applications, the comment period is on now - but only for another 19 days.
The plan is to export up to about 100 times the LNG gas now being produced at Tilbury.
While the plant is in the process of doubling its capacity, this application is for many times bigger. The export of the liquid is to take place by tanker ships and barges via a jetty to be built on the Fraser, and by road on trailers and 40-foot containers.
The Fortis construction now underway will get this started but there will have to be very significant additional capacity added if/when the upper limit is to be reached. Fortis does not know how much, but let's say the processing plant will have to be expanded 25 to 50 times its current size. To do this will require literally billions of dollars. Fortis says others will have to provide the commitments before they expand and invest.
This liquid - being so cold - is less dangerous than gasoline or diesel. A spill, if it happens, will typically freeze surroundings rather than igniting. The "big" earthquake is probably the greatest danger.
Fortis looks upon this as an opportunity to expand their business, to take B.C. gas to international markets, and frankly to get a head start on all the other proposals as Wespac hopes to start exporting in 2016! Though its ultimate size would be smaller than plants proposed for Kitimat and Prince Rupert, it will take place in the congested Lower Mainland right here in South Delta.
Welcome to the emerging industrial heartland of B.C. - South Delta!
