B.C.’s clean LNG facilities

Following last week’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government of British Columbia (B.C.) and Pacific NorthWest LNG, Mary Polak, Minister of Environment, examines how the Province is one step closer to ensuring a clean, vibrant LNG industry.

In an opinion piece on the government website, Polak claimed that B.C. is pushing for the cleanest LNG facilities in the world, helping to displace ‘dirty fuels’ in developing nations such as China and India.

Helping China

China has set a goal of almost doubling the role of natural gas in its energy portfolio by 2020, which could avoid up to 133 million tpy of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, twice B.C.’s total annual GHG emissions output.

Elaborating on the cleanliness of the Province’s natural gas, Polak explained: “The centrepiece of our cleanest LNG commitment is a GHG emissions intensity benchmark that is lower than any other LNG facility in the world, at 0.16 t CO₂ equivalent per t of LNG produced. This means B.C. will be a global leader in clean LNG because our facilities will address GHGs to a higher standard than any other LNG facility in the world.”

Clean incentives

B.C. currently has an incentive programme in place that rewards facilities investing in cleaner LNG technology. The scheme provides an escalating incentive when plant emissions are between 0.23 – 0.16 t of CO₂ equivalent per t of LNG produced.

Polak continued: “We acknowledge B.C. is choosing the more difficult path to GHG reduction because we are going to reduce our emissions while supporting a strong and growing economy that includes a thriving LNG industry. We have already had some success in reducing our emissions while growing our economy. Last year we announced that B.C. had reached its first interim GHG emissions reduction target of 6% below 2007 levels by 2012.

Attractive investment

“We have given the LNG industry clear direction on B.C.’s environmental expectations - the cleanest LNG facilities in the world and nothing less. Along with our competitive tax regime and strong workforce planning, B.C. LNG will remain an attractive investment, generating benefits for British Columbians for many years to come.”

Edited from source by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/26052015/clean-lng-in-british-columbia-821/