Summary

• The Province of British Columbia has issued an environmental assessment certificate to FortisBC to expand its existing LNG facility on Tilbury Island in the lower Fraser River in Delta
• FortisBC's Phase 2 expansion of the Tilbury Facility would generate billions in economic benefits and drive the Canadian economy forward
• Phase 2 would create more than 1,000 construction jobs and as many as 100 long-term jobs once in operation
• The expansion supports the growing demand for clean B.C. LNG
• The environmental assessment certificate is a key milestone for the project, which would be a major economic and cleaner energy opportunity for B.C.

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The Province has issued an environmental assessment certificate to FortisBC to expand its existing LNG facility on Tilbury Island after carefully considering the Environmental Assessment Office’s (EAO) assessment report and recommendations.

This decision will allow FortisBC to move forward with final approvals for a project that could bring billions in economic benefits to British Columbia and create many good-paying jobs. Completion of the environmental assessment was a necessary step before FortisBC makes a final investment decision.

“The Tilbury Phase 2 Expansion project has the potential to deliver significant economic and environmental benefits for B.C., and jobs for British Columbians,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “After carefully considering the environmental assessment of the project, Environment and Parks Minister Tamara Davidson and I made the decision to issue an environmental assessment certificate, a critical milestone in the authorizations required for this project.”

The Tilbury Phase 2 LNG expansion has been prioritized by the Province as part of B.C.’s Look West strategy for jobs and prosperity. If other required authorizations are received, the project is expected to provide significant economic benefits to B.C. and Canada. The expansion includes the construction of a new 142,400-cubic-metre storage tank and a new liquefication facility capable of producing as much as 2.5 million tonnes of LNG per year, as well as a natural gas receiving facility.  

Community benefits of FortisBC’s Tilbury LNG Facility Phase 2

Phase 2 of FortisBC’s Tilbury LNG facility expansion is designed to increase its LNG production capacity, supporting energy resiliency in the Lower Mainland. The expansion also represents an important opportunity to create good-paying jobs, strengthen B.C.’s economy and support greater energy independence.

FortisBC projects capital cost expenditures of $3.1 billion to construct the proposed project over a six-year period. In terms of GDP, FortisBC expects Phase 2 to add $1.7 billion to British Columbia’s GDP during construction and $700 million annually during operations.

The EAO is a neutral regulatory agency that manages environmental assessments of proposed major projects in B.C. to assess potential impacts on people and the environment. The EAO works with and gets input from technical experts, First Nations, companies, the public, local governments, and federal and provincial agencies to assess projects.

The assessment informs the decision by provincial ministers about whether or not to issue an environmental assessment certificate, and what conditions and requirements will be applied to prevent negative impacts and enhance positive impacts.

Learn More:

• To view the EAO’s information bulletin about the decision, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/34325
• To learn more about the FortisBC expansion, visit: https://talkingenergy.ca/project/tilbury-phase-2-lng-expansion-project
• To learn more about major projects in B.C.: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/major-projects
• To learn more about Look West: Jobs and Prosperity for a Stronger B.C. and Canada: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/look-west-strategy