A proposed natural gas pipeline from Chetwynd, through the Cariboo Chilcotin, to a liquefaction and export facility on the west coast of Vancouver Island 70 kilometres southwest of Port Alberni is being explored by Steelhead LNG.
Representatives from the Vancouver-based energy company appeared as a delegation during the Cariboo Regional District regular board meeting Friday, Feb. 8 to talk about the Kwispaa LNG project.
“We are just at the introductory point of sharing information,” said Breanne Whyte, community engagement lead for the company, noting Steelhead is working on the project with Huu-ay-aht First Nations.
Read more: Steelhead, Huu-ay-aht submit plans for Kwispaa LNG Project
Whyte said the pipeline would be about 1,000 kilometres in length, approximately 48 inches in diameter and be installed one metre underground.
During the construction phase the working area would consists of a 50-metre width along the route.
There would also be a small subsea crossing at the Salish Sea where the pipeline would be placed on the ocean floor and the liquefaction and export facility would be built at Nuumaqimyiis (Sarita) Bay in Alberni Inlet, on land owned by Huu-ay-aht First Nations.
As for the project’s timeline, Whyte said the community engagement began in 2018 and still underway.
In 2019 the company hopes to initiate the environmental assessment process and submit an application in 2020.
If approved it would take four years to construct the pipeline.
Steelhead LNG vice-president Corey Goulet said at this point they are looking at the corridor for the pipeline going from Chetwynd through to Bear Lake north of Prince George in the first segment, from Bear Lake to Riske Creek in the second segment.
After visiting the area to determine the route last summer, Goulet said they decided the west side of the Fraser River was the best option.
Area C director John Massier asked if all the gas would be exported or is the company looking at domestic or North American markets once it reaches southern B.C.
“That’s a significant amount of gas that can flow through a 48-inch pipeline,” Massier said. “Is there some way that domestic supply can be siphoned off to an alternate parallel pipeline to supply our region and not take a chance that we are freezing in the dark as our gas is flowing by the community and going somewhere else.”
Area G director Al Richmond said many communities on the west side of the Fraser River do not have access to natural gas and the company should expect to hear from those communities asking if they can access natural gas.
Whyte responded at this point the concept of the plan is for 100 per cent export to Asian markets, although no contracts have been secured yet.
Read more: Questions, concerns about LNG addressed at Port Alberni open house
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