Our Export Facility

Natural gas is an in-demand energy source known for being clean burning, safe to store and easy to transport.    

To export natural gas, it first needs to be turned into liquefied natural gas (LNG), which reduces its volume by 600-fold, making it practical to ship using specially designed marine vessels.   

LNG is odourless, colourless, non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-flammable. In order to transport British Columbia’s natural gas safely and efficiently to new markets, the gas is cooled to -162°C, at which temperature it turns into a liquid that can be stored at or around atmospheric pressure. Since LNG does not contain oxygen, it cannot support combustion. If LNG is inadvertently released, it quickly vapourizes, rises and disappears into the atmosphere without leaving residue behind. 

• LNG Processing Units: Natural gas enters our two processing units, known as trains, where carbon dioxide, water, condensate, sulphur and any other impurities are separated out. The gas is then chilled to approximately -162°C and turned into LNG. Condensates are stored and railed out to market. Our production volume is seven million tonnes per annum per train. 
• Storage Tank: LNG is piped to a 225,000m3 storage tank until it is loaded onto LNG carriers at the wharf.   
• LNG Loading Lines: Two LNG loading lines transfer LNG from the storage tank to the wharf and the LNG carrier. They are insulated to conserve energy and to keep the LNG in its liquid form.   
• Marine Terminal: We redesigned an existing wharf to accommodate up to two LNG carriers at a time. Every LNG carrier is assisted at the terminal by up to three tugboats – tugs maneuver alongside the LNG carrier, positioning it at a very low speed until the LNG carrier is secured at the berth.   
• Rail Yard: The rail yard inside the facility is connected into an existing rail system, which is used to load condensate, a petroleum liquid that results from the process of turning natural gas into LNG. The condensate is temporarily stored in tanks on the site and later transported off-site by rail car for sale to customers. 
• Water Treatment Facility: The facility draws water from the Kitimat River for process cooling, drinking and other purposes. To reduce water loss, a closed-loop system recycles water for repeated use. During use, most of the water evaporates. Any remaining water is treated, along with other facility wastewater, in an on-site wastewater treatment facility, before its released into Kitimat Arm.   
• Flare Stacks: The facility features two flare stacks – one that is approximately 60 metres tall and the other approximately 125 metres tall. They act as safety devices, a common feature in all LNG facilities. During normal operations, residents can expect to see a small, clean-burning flame at the top of the stacks, similar to a pilot light. This pilot light is approximately three feet in height.    
• Workforce Accommodation: To limit the impact of a large influx of people on the Kitimat community, LNG Canada built Cedar Valley Lodge – a workforce accommodation centre adjacent to the work site, which can house up to 4,500 people in single room accommodation. The lodge was designed with workers in mind and provides bus transportation to the worksite, reducing the number of vehicles on the road and other safety concerns.