BC prohibits oil or bitumen transport through LNG pipelines

The Province of British Columbia said it has established a regulation to ensure pipelines built to support liquefied natural gas facilities will not be permitted to transport oil or diluted bitumen.

This measure follows a commitment made by the Province earlierĀ last year to put a mechanism in place to ensure pipelines, built to supply LNG facilities, would not transport oil or bitumen. Prior to this commitment, concerns were being expressed during environmental assessments and by First Nations about the long-term pipeline use.

The new regulation will be applied under the Oil and Gas Activities Act and prohibits the BC Oil and Gas Commission from permitting any conversion of a natural gas pipeline supplying an LNG facility.

The following six proposed pipelines are subject to the regulation and other pipelines can be added in the future:

  • Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project (for LNG Canada)
  • Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission Project (for Prince Rupert LNG)
  • Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project (for Pacific Northwest LNG)
  • Pacific Trail Pipelines Project (for Kitimat LNG)
  • Pacific Northern Gas Looping Project (for Douglas Channel LNG)
  • Eagle Mountain-Woodfibre Gas Project (for Woodfibre LNG)

British Columbia currently has 18 LNG proposals for export operations.

[mappress mapid=”16408″]

Press Release; Image: gov.bc.ca