The Environmental Assessment Application for the Tilbury Phase 2 LNG Expansion Project in Delta has been filed with the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).
That’s the latest from FortisBC, noting it is a “significant milestone” moving another step closer to ensuring that Lower Mainland customers continue to have reliable energy and a contingency amount in the event of a supply disruption.
FortisBC says the project will also allow it to meet the growing demand for LNG as a lower-carbon fuel alternative such as for LNG marine fuelling.
Winding its way through a lengthy application and review process, the project would increase the Tilbury facility’s LNG production capacity by more than 50 per cent, up to 7,700 tonnes of LNG per day for an operational life of at least 40 years.
The expansion would allow for a total storage capacity of up to 216,400 cubic metres of LNG and includes an additional storage tank and liquefaction facilities.
The project is undergoing a substituted environmental assessment review under the federal Impact Assessment Act and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act. The BC EAO is leading the review, which consists of seven phases.
The Tilbury Phase 2 environmental assessment will now move into an Application Review.
During a 180-day Application Review stage, the EAO will seek comment from participating Indigenous nations and Technical Advisory Committee members, as well as comments from the public, including the Community Advisory Committee.
Operating in Delta since 1971, the Tilbury LNG facility went through a first phase of expansion in 2018.
LNG Marine Jetty
Meanwhile, a proposed new liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine jetty next door to the Tilbury facility moved another step closer to reality this summer with the federal government announcing its approval.
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada announced that, following a thorough environmental assessment based on science and Indigenous knowledge, the Tilbury Marine Jetty Project has been issued its final environmental assessment decision, allowing the project to proceed.
The Tilbury Jetty Limited Partnership can now proceed with obtaining any other necessary permits and authorizations from federal departments, the government announced a few weeks ago.
The project includes the berthing and transferring of LNG to marine barges and carriers for delivery to local fuel and offshore export markets.
The supply of LNG for the facility will come via a pipeline from the existing adjacent FortisBC Tilbury LNG plant.
