LNG opposition unrelenting

As quickly as governments and regulators open the routes to completion of LNG projects in British Columbia they get blocked by factions that want nothing to do with fossil fuel development.

And the Petronas-led Pacific NorthWest venture has again fallen victim to the opposition forces.

Two hereditary chiefs of the Gitxsan First Nation in northwestern British Columbia have launched the fourth Federal Court of Canada challenge of Pacific NorthWest, demanding a judicial review of the project, four months after it was given final approval by the Canadian government.

The Gitxsan traditional territory covers the area targeted for an C$11.4 billion LNG liquefaction plant and export terminal - part of an overall project that carries a price tag of C$36 billion - near Prince Rupert.

Hereditary chief Yvonne Lattie said in a statement that the government decision “did not respect our fishing rights protected under the Canadian Constitution. We were not consulted.”

“This project will be stopped,” said a spokesman for the Luutkudziiwus community. “The terminal is bad news for our salmon up the Skeena River.”

Three other challenges filed in October are aimed at derailing a venture by four Asian companies that the appellants rate as a “very risky investment” amid a global glut of LNG.

British Columbia Natural Gas Development Minister Rich Coleman said that although the challenges must be handled by the courts, the markets in China and Japan remain open to LNG from Canada.

Pacific NorthWest said it has been meeting with First Nations since 2012 and is continuing to seek an agreement with them.

- GARY PARK