As concrete pouring and substantial site preparation begins at the Woodfibre LNG project in British Columbia (BC), project partners are targeting for the facility to be Canada’s second operational terminal.
Touted as one of the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emitting liquefied natural gas export projects, Woodfibre is designed to access Western Canada’s prolific natural gas reserves to send more volumes on an abbreviated route to Asian customers from the Pacific Coast. Early construction began in the fall of 2022, and work began last year on the first out of 18 Chinese fabricated modules that would make up the LNG project. All modules are scheduled to arrive by fall 2025.
“Once the facility is up and running, it will have the capacity to liquefy up to 2.1 million tonnes of LNG per year (mmty) and store up to 250,000 cubic meters,” Woodfibre spokesperson Sean Beardow told NGI. “Under normal conditions, the project expects to load one ship approximately every 10 days.”
A floating hotel has been sited near the project site to house up to 650 construction employees needed to install the first liquefaction train, a floating LNG storage and offloading unit, an air-cooling system and marine docking facilities for LNG vessels.
Woodfibre is regulated by the Squamish Nation, as well as the BC and Canadian governments. Singapore’s Pacific Energy Corp. Ltd. holds a 70% stake in Woodfibre LNG, and gas company Enbridge Inc. holds the remaining 30% share.
Woodfibre has inked three 15-year LNG supply agreements with BP plc for almost all of the terminal’s operational capacity.
“It will be the first LNG export facility in Canada approved to use electric compressors in its liquefaction process, replacing more common gas-powered turbines. These compressors, powered by renewable hydroelectricity, will help Woodfibre LNG achieve one of the lowest emissions profiles in the industry,” Beardow said.
More than 20 Canadian west coast LNG projects have been proposed in the last decade, with less than half moving past the proposal stage. NGI is currently tracking three export projects under construction in BC – Cedar LNG, LNG Canada and Woodfibre.
If Woodfibre LNG comes online by 2027, as targeted by the project partners, it would become the second operational terminal after the 12.7 mmty capacity LNG Canada. Cedar LNG is expected to reach substantial completion sometime in 2028.
Shell plc-led LNG Canada at Kitimat on the northern BC Pacific Coast is close to commissioning its first train, with plans to achieve first production by the middle of next year.
