FortisBC’s Tilbury Phase 2 LNG Expansion Project is winding its way through a provincial environmental assessment process with federal involvement that, if successful, would grant it approvals from both levels of government.
An update regional district report to the Metro Vancouver board outlined on the application for the major expansion on Tilbury Island in Delta, noting the project is still in the Application Development and Review phase of the assessment process, and FortisBC expected to submit an application for review this fall.
It will be reviewed by the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) and process participants, including Metro Vancouver.
The project would increase the 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 application is currently in the fourth stage, including the Application Development and Review phase. During the stage, the proponent works with participating Indigenous nations and environmental assessment participants to develop their application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate
Operating in Delta since 1971, the Tilbury LNG facility went through a first phase of expansion in 2018.
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.
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.
The jetty project is not dependent on the adjacent proposed FortisBC Tilbury expansion, the province noted.
The project is to be jointly owned by Fortis LNG Jetty Limited Partnership and Seaspan.
The regional district report notes that provincial approval conditions include “explicit requirements” to consult with Metro Vancouver on environmental management, riverbed monitoring, air quality management and greenhouse gas emissions.
