An environmental assessment certificate has been granted for the Ksi Lisims LNG project in Northwest B.C.
B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office announced the certificate had been granted in an information bulletin Monday (Sept. 15), after a joint decision by provincial ministers. Environment and Parks Minister Tamara Davidson and Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix made the decision "after carefully considering the environmental assessment by B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office," the bulletin notes.
The office's assessment began in 2021 and "involved extensive consultation with technical experts, First Nations, provincial and federal agencies, local governments and the public."
The ministers imposed 23 legally enforceable conditions that must be followed over the lifespan of the project. Those requirements include:
• A greenhouse-gas emissions plan requiring Ksi Lisims to meet the province's net-zero policy and update it every five years;
• Plans to manage impacts related to project construction, wildlife and wildlife habitat, marine underwater noise and road transportation;
• Marine transportation communication reporting with First Nations on activities that may affect marine use and a reporting mechanism for First Nations and other mariners to report concerns;
• A health and medical-services plan to reduce pressures from outside workers on local health services;
• A gender and cultural safety plan that outlines gender-based violence prevention and response programs that apply to all workers;
• A socioeconomic management plan that prioritizes regional and Indigenous hiring, apprenticeships and procurement, and helps limit effects on local housing, infrastructure and services;
• Connecting to the BC Hydro power grid to provide sufficient electrical capacity for operations once BC Hydro is able to provide service; and
• A community feedback process that provides residents of the area with a way to have concerns and complaints about the project addressed.
The Ksi Lisims LNG project is still awaiting other required permits and authorizations. If those are received the project is approved to build and operate two floating liquid natural gas structures at Pearse Island in northwestern B.C.
The province says the project is expected to employ an average of 450 workers during construction and have a permanent workforce of up to 250 people.
The LNG project is being developed in partnership between the Nisga'a Nation, Rockies LNG Limited Partnership and Western LNG.
More to come.
