Scientists, Climate Experts Ask Canada to Reject Patronas Backed LNG Project

A large group of scientists and climate experts have urged the Canadian government to reject the proposed Pacific Northwest LNG project.

Petronas backed Pacific Northwest LNG project has already been delayed due to lack of environmental clearance. Petronas, Sinopec, JAPEX, Indian Oil Corporation, PetroleumBRUNEI and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company (MGC) are all shareholders in the project. In March, the project got further delayed when Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEEA) was granted a three-month extension to complete the study. Petronas and its partners have been waiting nearly three years for a permit to build the $28 billion LNG facility in northern British Columbia (BC). 

Through a letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 90 scientists and experts have asked the government not to extend environmental assessment certificate to the project.

The experts said that Pacific Northwest LNG would be one of the single largest point source emitters in Canada. When upstream emissions are added to facility emissions, the project would add between 18.5 and 22.5 percent to BC’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This would make it virtually impossible for BC to meet its GHG emission reduction targets, and would undermine Canada’s international climate change commitments, they added.

The experts have argued that GHG emissions reported by Pacific Northwest LNG and included in CEEA’s draft assessment underestimate the total emissions released over the full life cycle of the project. They also pointed out that there is no evidence LNG from the project will replace coal in Asia. 

Pacific Northwest LNG, meanwhile, has dismissed all concerns raised by the experts.  

Pacific Northwest LNG is a proposed natural gas liquefaction and export facility on Lelu Island within the District of Port Edward on land administered by the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA). The facility would liquefy and export natural gas produced by Progress Energy Canada Ltd. in northeast BC.