Two years later

Exactly two years ago, we made history by becoming Canada’s first major liquified natural gas export facility to proceed to construction. Our joint venture participants’ final investment decision (FID) on October 1, 2018 demonstrated their strong conviction that LNG from Canada will have an important role in meeting the world’s low carbon energy needs for decades to come.

The positive investment decision two years ago also demonstrated confidence that our country—and British Columbia in particular—has the human and technical resources to build a highly advanced and complex energy facility, the largest private infrastructure project in Canadian history.

The LNG Canada project is now entering its third year of construction, and the results are tangible. “Going vertical” is a phrase commonly—and quite literally–used to describe our activities this year. We’re building from the ground up.

Remarkable progress has been made at the project site in Kitimat in the past 12 months, with a number of important milestones achieved. This despite unforeseen challenges due to an unprecedented global health emergency.

The COVID-19 pandemic required decisive responses and a firm plan of action from LNG Canada and JGC Fluor, our Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contractor. And we have delivered, thanks to the dedication and resolve of our site workers, all of whom have shown their steadfast commitment to protecting each other, the community and the project.

We recognize that the pandemic has raised concerns for everyone. It has tested all of us. It is with a profound sense of gratitude that we thank all of our neighbours for the gracious support they have extended to the LNG Canada family and project, and for helping inform our efforts and vision.

Our core focus remains on protecting the health, safety and well-being of Indigenous and community stakeholders living adjacent to our project site in Kitimat and in Terrace. This was certainly top of mind when Cedar Valley Lodge, our spacious, best-in-class worker accommodation centre opened for first occupancy in July this year.

For as long as required, Cedar Valley Lodge will feature stringent measures to protect residents, staff and the community at large from the risk of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. These include physical distancing in all areas of the facility and enhanced hygiene practices. The new lodge features its own medical clinic that provides 24/7 care for occupational, non-occupational and mental health support. What’s more, all residential rooms in Cedar Valley Lodge are single occupancy, each with its own private shower and washroom, giving workers additional space and privacy.

While Cedar Valley Lodge is perhaps the most visible sign of construction progress made since our first post-FID anniversary, it’s by no means the only major accomplishment. Other large work scopes underway include dredging & marine activities; marine terminal, module haul road and LNG tank construction; and additional advanced site preparation.

In addition to these critical pieces of infrastructure, work continues to advance on our environmental offset and mitigation efforts that directly benefit marine and land animals. This includes the completion earlier this year of the Kitimat River Side Channel project, providing new habitat for birds and spawning fish.

Year two also saw more project-related benefits to Indigenous and local communities. Being a responsible neighbour that delivers on its promises is something we take very seriously; we strive to meet our commitments to others, every single day.

To that end, we are proud that as we enter our third year of construction, we have more than 3,000 people employed at the Kitimat site. Meanwhile, the LNG Canada project has awarded over $2.2 billion in contracts to local and Indigenous companies and has spent over $6 million on social investments and workforce development programs.

While some of those investments may not seem directly tied to project construction, they represent how LNG Canada works in partnership with local communities, to everyone’s benefit.

Earlier this year, LNG Canada committed $500,000 to support community responses to COVID-19 in both Kitimat and Terrace, reaching priorities set by Northern Health, Indigenous communities and other local stakeholders, including frontline workers and local service organizations. Also this year, the Terrace Fire Department took possession of a brand new, fully-equipped rescue truck, purchased with another $500,000 donation from LNG Canada.

And building on our work with Indigenous communities in B.C., LNG Canada pledged $300,000 to support programs and opportunities offered by Indspire, an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

Big ticket items like these often receive a lot of attention. But that doesn’t mean other contributions should be ignored or overlooked. We’re proud to recognize the extraordinary, creative things that people from our project and in their local communities do every day to help others, and to make the world a better place. As we enter our third year of construction post-FID, we continue to find ways to meet challenges, to improve, and to succeed. Together, we’re better.