Environmental assessment filed for proposed Tilbury Pacific LNG marine jetty

News Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vancouver, B.C.  ̶  March 21, 2019: WesPac Midstream-Vancouver’s proposal to build the Tilbury Pacific LNG marine jetty on the Fraser River in Delta, B.C. reached a new milestone today with the filing of an application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate with the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office and the start of a new public consultation period.

Tilbury Pacific would become a vital link in the West Coast LNG supply chain delivering low-emission fuel to a new generation of coastal and ocean-going shipping. It would also have the capability to supply bulk shipments of B.C.-produced LNG to customers across the Pacific and along the West Coast.

“The world is turning to natural gas as an energy alternative to coal and oil,” said Peter Gallenberger, Tilbury Pacific project manager. “Exporting LNG through the Tilbury Pacific jetty will help support the environmental goals of countries that lack Canada’s wealth of energy options, while also helping the shipping industry as it shifts from bunker fuel to natural gas.”

Market forces have positively shifted the outlook for LNG in recent years with the growing need for a low-emission fuel. Global demand has surged as countries look to reduce their reliance on coal and oil for fuel. Tilbury Pacific would have the capability to supply bulk shipments of LNG and connect customers overseas with Canada’s extensive natural gas reserves.

The International Maritime Organization is also introducing a new global cap on sulphur emissions in 2020 that will encourage more shipping companies to switch their fleets from bunker fuel to natural gas. Tilbury Pacific is positioned to play a key role in supplying LNG-fuelled ships in the Pacific Northwest region and trans-Pacific ships.

Over the last year, WesPac has been planning and refining the Tilbury Pacific project. There have been a number of changes to the proposed design as a result of feedback from the public, Indigenous communities and potential customers. These changes include:

  • Proposal to build a temporary floating berth to serve bunker vessels and ocean-going ships as soon as 2020
  • Permanent berth to serve export and bunker vessels would be operational by 2022
  • Reducing the project’s physical footprint with a shorter, narrower walkway and smaller trestle to allow more light to pass through. This means less impact on the marine environment near this historically industrial site.

Visit TilburyPacific.ca to subscribe to project updates and learn more details about upcoming open houses. Find more information on the environmental assessment certificate application at projects.eao.gov.bc.ca.

 

About WesPac Midstream

WesPac Midstream – Vancouver LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of WesPac Midstream LLC, a private energy infrastructure company founded in 1998 to develop, own, and operate energy facilities throughout North America. WesPac is majority owned by Kealine LLC, a private development company.

KEY FACTS:

  • In B.C., coastal freight vessels and trans-Pacific vessels produce about 70 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, which is more than the entire province emits each year.
  • Converting one ocean-going tanker, cruise ship or container ship to LNG from heavy fuel oil reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 93,500 tonnes a year. This is equivalent to taking 19,800 cars off the road.
  • LNG fuel provides environmental benefits by reducing emissions from ship engine exhaust. According to a report prepared for Transport Canada, compared to other marine fuels LNG can lower emissions from:
    • Sulphur oxides by over 90 per cent
    • Nitrogen oxides by up to 85 per cent
    • Particulate matter by over 85 per cent
    • Carbon dioxide by up to 29 per cent
    • Greenhouse gases by up to 19 per cent on a CO2-equivalent basis
  • Anticipated spending with direct supplier industries in B.C. during the four-year construction phase of the project is estimated at about $132.8 million, including taxes and wages.
  • By the end of 2017 and since the first commercial shipment, LNG vessels have safely delivered more than 92,000 cargoes around the world.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Tilbury Pacific
tilburypacific.ca
[email protected]
24-hour media line: 1-855-592-7727