34.62 billion cubic metres

Proposed Pacific NorthWest LNG plant on Lelu Island, near Prince Rupert, B.C.

On 18th October, Petronas-owned Pacific NorthWest LNG was granted a 40-year licence to export natural gas the National Energy Board. The licence will allow the company to export a maximum 34.62 billion cubic meters annually from its proposed terminal on Lelu Island. The previous approval for a 25-year licence seems to have been superseded by the Boards the recent decision seems to have been taken in the light of legislative amendments under the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act. This massive concession to the need of the economy, follows on the heels of the Federal Liberal approval of the project and puts into perspective their commitment to the environment and to indigenous interests. As Chief Yahaan, who is leading the occupation of Lelu island in opposition to the terminal, had said on CBC Radio upon hearing of the Federal Governments approval of the project, “my feelings as a First Nations person were that we were really slapped in the face by the announcement.”

Image from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/trudeau-indigenous-promises-1.3788876