Site location provides 15 days less shipping time than from U.S. Gulf Coast
Premier John Horgan toured the AltaGas Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal, saying it is an excellent model for the Province’s vision of expanding sustainable resource production, creating long-term jobs and fuelling local economic development, according to a press release.
“This is a first-of-its-kind project that opens the door to global markets for British Columbia, while creating good, sustainable jobs and economic development for the North Coast,” said Premier Horgan.
Scheduled for opening in early 2019, the terminal is expected to be the first on Canada’s West Coast to export cleaner-burning propane from British Columbia and Alberta to Asia and other overseas markets.
“We’ll continue to enthusiastically pursue and support projects that benefit local workers, communities and Indigenous people, while protecting our air, land and water,” said Horgan.
Premier Horgan toured the facility with Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Michelle Mungall.
The Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal has already resulted in up to 250 construction jobs, and will provide up to 50 permanent full-time jobs when it is up and running.
Propane from British Columbia and Alberta natural gas producers will be transported to the facility using the existing CN rail network.
“This is a very good day for Prince Rupert and all British Columbians,” said Mungall. “We’re building good jobs on good projects that benefit local communities and First Nations.”
The export facility will be equipped to ship up to 1.2 million tonnes of processed propane annually.
Operations will take place on a brownfield site with a long history of industrial development, with existing railway access and close proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
“AltaGas is pleased to work closely with First Nations, governments, local communities and other stakeholders to develop the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal, the first of its kind on the West Coast of Canada,” said David Harris, president and CEO, AltaGas Ltd.
The site’s location advantage provides very short shipping distances to markets in Asia, e.g., a 10-day shipping time compared to 25 days from the United States’ Gulf Coast.
“The export terminal, along with our Townsend and North Pine Facilities in northeast B.C. are part of our strategy to provide upstream energy producers with unparalleled access to premium markets including Asia.”
On Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, the Premier and the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources also visited the proposed site of the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat.
LNG Canada’s commitment to the project demonstrates British Columbia remains a cost-competitive prospect in the global LNG export industry. Industrial site clearing is underway and is expected to be complete by the end of 2017.
