Canadian Goldboro LNG Wins Permit

The Nova Scotia Utilities and Review Board (NSUARB) has approved, with conditions, Pieridae Energy’s application for a permit to construct its 8mn metric tons/year (mt/yr) Goldboro LNG facility, the board announced October 31.

With the construction permit in hand, Pieridae says it will now “work diligently” to ensure the conditions are met, and will start construction “as soon as a positive final investment decision (FID) is taken.” Over the last few months, Pieridae has suggested it would take FID on the project early in 2019.

The conditions are essentially those recommended by Lloyd’s Register North America, the NSUARB’s certifying authority, in a September 2018 report to the board, and incorporate standard conditions related to permits, personnel and engineering.

Ahead of construction, Pieridae Energy has engaged engineering firm Hatch to act as its engineering adviser.

And it has also committed to continuing engagement with First Nations so that Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq people will “realise on the opportunities” outlined in a 2013 memorandum of understanding.

“It is appropriate to formally recognise the close cultural and historical relationship between the Mi’kmaq people in Nova Scotia and their traditional territory and the resources of the province while acknowledging that the Mi’kmaq have not historically ceded lands or resources through treaty or other formal agreement,” Pieridae CEO Alfred Sorensen said.