British Columbia’s Metro Vancouver is to begin discussions with FortisBC and its partner over the recent Canadian federal government-approved Tilbury Marine Jetty (TMJ) LNG terminal planned for the Fraser River.
Construction of the terminal, which will handle LNG bunker vessels and LNGCs, is now due to start next year.
Before the building phase, environmental management plans will be put forward, which will include, river bed monitoring, greenhouse gas reductions and air quality, in consultation with the regional government, according to a report tabled on 3rd October at the British Columbia climate action committee.
The Delta jetty project was ultimately approved by Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, in July. The British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office provided an assessment of the plans from developer Tilbury Jetty Limited Partnership (TJLP), including operating and monitoring conditions.
With the approval came a revised estimate of how many ships will transit the river annually - almost triple from an original projection of 274 trips to 730.
The assessment said that as many as 307 bunker vessels and 58 LNGCs will make a round-trip on the river annually, which has one of the country’s most sensitive and diverse ecosystems.
According to local media, the project has drawn criticism from environmental groups, due to its promotion of the burning of fossil fuels.
Ships will pose a risk to the river and estuary, as well as its habitants, most notably the Southern Resident Killer Whale population, it was said.
