LNG is natural gas that has been condensed (cooled) and liquefied. This is done to make the transport and storage easier. Natural gas in its liquefied state takes up a volume of about 1/600th that of natural gas in its regular gaseous state. It is much more efficient to transport and store natural gas in its liquid form, particularly when it needs to travel over areas without pipelines.

LNG plants receive upstream treated natural gas delivered through midstream sector pipelines, which they then cool and liquefy. To accomplish the liquefaction process, the natural gas must be exposed to very cold temperatures, typically about −162 °C (-260 °F). It must also be stored in specially designed and built cryogenic tanks.

Once the gas has been liquefied, it is transported in special refrigerated ships to other countries.

When it reaches its destination, the liquefied gas is off-loaded, converted back to vapour form (vaporized) and then distributed to various markets.

Video 4: Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Value Chain
(04 minutes, 13 seconds)

Active LNG Facilities in British Columbia

There are currently two LNG facilities operating in British Columbia. Both are owned and operated by FORTISBC. One facility is located near metropolitan Vancouver on Tilbury Island in Delta, BC near FortisBC’s transmission pipeline system. This plant has been operating since 1971 and is undergoing an expansion.¹

The other operation is located approximately six km northwest of Ladysmith, BC on Vancouver Island, and has been operating since 2011. The 20-hectare Mt. Hayes facility, supplied by FortisBC’s existing pipeline systems, holds 1.5 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas. In 2012 FortisBC partnered with the Stz’uminus (Chemainus) First Nation and Cowichan tribes on this project. Each Nation invested 5.7 million, creating jobs and economic opportunities in their communities. As a result, the region received $70 million in investment, which included sourcing local suppliers for goods and services, direct local employment during construction and 12 full-time operations jobs at the facility.

₁ The Cowichan Nation Alliance is presently in court seeking aboriginal title of land in Delta and Richmond. The alliance is suing both senior governments, the City of Richmond, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the Musqueam Indian Band and the Tsawwassen First Nation. FortisBC acknowledges in its proposal for the project that the historic village site of Tl’uqtinus is located approximately 515 metres north of the project site on the opposite side of the River.