Supporters of the Pacific NorthWest liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project in British Columbia were encouraged by a report from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), which found that the project could proceed without causing major ecological damage.
Even so, the report did find several areas of concern where it could have a negative impact – on harbour porpoises and climate change in particular.
Should it go ahead, the $11bn LNG terminal project near Prince Rupert will be built by a consortium led by Malaysian oil giant Petronas.
The CEAA is an agency of Canada’s federal government. It reports to the country’s Minister of the Environment and it serves as a centre of expertise for federal environmental assessment.
Its mixed findings and its conclusion favouring the project’s go-ahead will be reviewed by representatives of Canada’s aboriginal First Nation groups who can make suggestions and set conditions of their own to ensure the environment is properly protected.
