BC Approves The Pacific Northwest LNG Export Terminal, Federal Approval Pending

On November 25, 2014, the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (the BC EAO) approved the Pacific Northwest LNG Export Terminal (the Terminal), one of the twelve major BC LNG projects announced to date. The proponent of the Terminal is Pacific Northwest LNG Ltd. (Pacific Northwest), which is owned primarily by Malaysia's PETRONAS. However, other minority shareholders such as China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Japex and Indian Oil Corporation are also backing the development of the Terminal. 

In approving the Terminal, the BC EAO also approved two pipelines: (i) the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline (the Prince Rupert Pipeline), which is being developed by TransCanada Corp.,  and (ii) the Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission pipeline, proposed by Spectra Energy Corp. The Prince Rupert Pipeline will transport gas produced by PETRONAS' subsidiary, Progress Energy Canada Ltd., in northeast B.C. to the Terminal on Lelu Island.