With rumours of a final investment decision coming as early as tomorrow, LNG Canada’s planned Kitimat project is still facing a number of questionmarks.
One of the biggest roadblocks for investors is an outstanding jurisdicational challenge issued by Smithers resident Michael Sawyer.
If Sawyers’ challenge is successful, the National Energy Board would need to step in to conduct a federal review of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which would fuel the plant.
However, the extra 1 billion dollars in steel tariffs to build the plant may no longer be an issue with LNG Canada recently applying for duty remission.
If the application makes it through the Federal Court of Appeal, the group would be exempt from the tariffs on the grounds that the steel cannot be sourced locally.
Rumours around the pending approval come from a Bloomberg report that investment partner leaders Royal Dutch Shell are gearing up for a celebration in Kitimat.
However, during a press conference yesterday, Premier John Horgan neither confirmed nor denied the progress of the approval.
