LNG Canada Export Terminal

The liquified natural gas (LNG) export terminal being constructed at Kitimat, British Columbia is a game-changer. The design, construction and operating phases will employ thousands, support economic growth, and provide significant revenue to the provincial and federal governments. When operating, 26 million tonnes of LNG per annum will be exported to global markets, some of it replacing coal with cleaner burning natural gas.

One of our roles in this complex project was to lead the equally complex environmental assessments and securing of regulatory approvals. As well for the terminal itself, we provided assessments for the 670-kilometre Coastal Gaslink pipeline. Both elements received a positive final investment decision on October 1, 2018. Built on and across challenging and sensitive terrain, and concerning numerous community stakeholders, we are proud to have provided decisionmakers with comprehensive and reliable information. Whether on the ground, or in the office, we applied best practices and the latest in technology, including remote sensing, to our assessments.

Our other role was as design engineers and engineers-of-record for the two wharf facilities. Everything about this project is on a large scale. The marine terminal includes a 550 metre long dock, known as the Materials Offloading Facility, to receive construction materials and plant modules up to 8,000 tonnes. Then there is the 490-metre-long wharf for loading ships capable of carrying 217,000 cubic metres of LNG. Our integrated approach to structural and geotechnical design, and use of 3D modeling to communicate the design of structures, helped the owners and our clients meet their tight timelines, while also following the strict code requirements for this landmark project.