Cedar LNG gets green lights. And more . . .

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Our newsletter: 16 March 2023

Cedar LNG gets green lights from BC and Ottawa

The $3-billion floating LNG plant that the Haisla Nation and Pembina Pipelines plan to build and operate near Kitimat gets a welcome green light from the BC government, and then from the federal government.

The BC decision attaches 16 conditions to the project. The federal one added a further ‘over 250 legally-binding conditions.’ And federal approval and provincial permits will be required before any construction can start.

BC’s decision to grant an Environmental Assessment Certificate was announced by Premier David Eby, and came from George Heyman, minister of environment and climate change strategy, and Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation.

“The ministers acknowledge that the project takes all possible measures currently available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the lowest feasible level.

“With the requirement to implement a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan, combined with regulations that are under development by government regarding oil-and-gas-sector emissions, they concluded that the project can fit within B.C.’s climate targets and goals.”

The ministers’ reasons document also said: “We noted that Haisla Nation, Kitselas First Nation and Gitxaała Nation expressed support for the project. . . . Gitga’at First Nation and Kitsumkalum First Nation did not object to the issuance of an EA Certificate for the Project.”

The ministers, though, did note this: “While Gitga’at First Nation, Gitxaała Nation and Kitsumkalum did not object to Cedar LNG, they continued to voice strong concerns regarding cumulative effects of marine shipping. . . .” The ministers said they expect Ottawa to address shipping issues.

Haisla Chief Councillor Crystal Smith hailed the decision: “Today is a historic day for me and my people. Today is not just about the approval of an LNG Facility. Today is about changing the course of history for my Nation and Indigenous peoples everywhere, a history where Indigenous people were left on the sidelines of economic development in their territories, a history where Indigenous peoples’ values were ignored in favour of economic gain, impacting the environment and our way of life. Today’s environmental approval of Cedar LNG paves the way for our Nation to take control of our future.”

And Cedar LNG announced an MOU for a 20-year liquefaction services agreement with ARC Resources.

“The parties are working towards finalizing a definitive agreement for 1.5 million tonnes of LNG per year, equivalent to approximately 200 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas, or approximately half of Cedar LNG’s production.”

Cedar LNG also received its first permit from the BC Energy Regulator for the approximately 8.5-kilometre pipeline that will connect the project to the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

BC LNG and net zero

 The BC government quickly followed up its Cedar LNG announcement with the news that future LNG projects must have ‘a credible plan to be net zero by 2030.’

And there will be a regulatory emissions cap for the oil-and-gas sector tied to BC’s 2030 target.

There was no specific mention of the Nisga’a nation’s proposed Ksi Lisims LNG project, but it says it will be “net zero by design.”

And Woodfibre LNG declared: “For Woodfibre LNG, our partnership with Indigenous groups and our goal to be the world’s first net-zero LNG facility demonstrates that LNG can be produced responsibly and sustainably to meet the objectives highlighted in today’s announcement.”

Haisla Nation tugs named and blessed

HaiSea Marine, majority owned by Haisla Nation in partnership with Seaspan ULC, has marked the official naming and blessing of its coming tugboat fleet — which includes the world’s first fully electric harbour tugs.

Once delivered, the green fleet will provide ship-assist and escort towing services to LNG carriers calling at LNG Canada’s export facility in Kitimat, in the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation.

The HaiSea fleet will comprise three electric harbour tugs and two dual-fuel (LNG and diesel) escort tugs that will be the most powerful on Canada’s West Coast.

Names for all five tugs were chosen by the Haisla, Gitxaala, and Gitga’at Nations, and carry connections to the cultures and regions of BC’s North Coast.

Members of the Haisla Nation joined representatives from Seaspan, HaiSea Marine and LNG Canada for the naming ceremony at Sanmar Shipyards in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Chief Councillor Crystal Smith of the Haisla Nation said: “From the very beginning, this joint venture was designed to ensure our members and neighbours would have access to employment opportunities and today we are closer to realizing those benefits.”

And HaiSea estimates its tugboat fleet will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 10,000 tonnes annually compared with marine-diesel alternatives.

And a Haisla Nation partnership, Bridgemans Kitamaat Joint Venture, has a new contract for work on LNG Canada’s tug berth at Kitimat. Construction is scheduled to be completed in early 2024.

Indigenous clean-energy projects

As we keep an eye on clean-energy initiatives by First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples, we spotted these recent stories:

ALSO IN THE NEWS

  • Resource firms in BC move ahead with UNDRIP compliance and ‘free, prior and informed consent’ of Indigenous communities. http://ow.ly/pkVA50NgESS
  • The last two pre-fabricated modules are ready to move from China to the LNG Canada project at Kitimat: http://ow.ly/YcKa50Nc0Vk
  • ‘The Canadian solution is simple: ramp up gas production, capture the carbon and export as much LNG as possible.’ http://ow.ly/i4gk50NfqQw
  • Pipeline developers demand US$20-billion payout from Canada after Énergie Saguenay LNG terminal and pipeline in Quebec were rejected: http://ow.ly/XOYg50NgaRJ
  • 239 natural-gas wells have been licensed — and 10 have begun drilling — following Blueberry River First Nations’ historic agreement with BC: http://ow.ly/eoH850NegzG
  • Alaska firm proposes LNG-for-export project that would compete for Asian customers with Russia — and with British Columbia LNG: http://ow.ly/gMVn50Nc2gJ

DATES

March

April

  • The Canadian Gas Association’s Energy Nexus and annual technical conference, April 17-20, Calgary. Info/register: http://ow.ly/YJrI50NhrM1
  • From the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, the Values Driven Economy Conference, April 24-25, Vancouver. http://ow.ly/rWEE50MnKe6

May

  • Canada Gas and LNG Exhibition and Conference, May 9-11, Vancouver: http://ow.ly/YxcZ50LjFM1
  • The Forward Summit 2023, May 17-18, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino near Calgary. Registration: http://ow.ly/Q8ZV50K7FYb (Note that there’s an Indigenous discount.)

June

July

September

October

2024

  • The International Gas Research Conference, May 13-16. Our Karen Ogen is on the national organizing committee. Conference website: https://igrc2024.org/

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(Posted here 19 March 2023)

The First Nations LNG Alliance is a collective of First Nations who are participating in, and supportive of, sustainable LNG development in BC.

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