Steelhead LNG, which recently renamed a portion of the project in Port Alberni, has decided not to build a terminal on the Bamberton Lands in the Saanich Inlet.

The Malahat Nation and Steelhead LNG will not move further on plans to build a terminal on the Bamberton Industrial Lands. On the Malahat LNG website, a statement said “Steelhead LNG made the decision after careful consideration and based on several factors as we look to develop a project that delivers low-cost LNG that is globally competitive.”

The Peninsula News Review was first alerted to this via a Facebook post from the mayor of Central Saanich, Ryan Windsor. The statement has not been publicized on Steelhead LNG’s website or any of their social media channels.

In an interview, Windsor said he received an email from a known source within the Steelhead partnership, and he felt it legitimate enough to comment publicly.

“It’s consistent with [the District’s] view that it was not appropriate in the first place to have it in this particular location,” said Windsor.

Windsor said the area was ecologically sensitive, that it had a long history with the local First Nations (the project is opposed by the four W̱SÁNEĆ nations in the area) and that it would have been further detrimental to the bay.

Steelhead LNG is continuing to explore the Kwispaa LNG project, formerly Sarita LNG, located southwest of Port Alberni.

MLA Adam Olsen said he has been publicly opposed to this project from Aug. 20, 2015 when it was first announced.

“I’ve had some very substantial concerns about the LNG industry exporting natural gas, but more specifically and closer to home, I’ve always held and maintained publicly that the Saanich Inlet is not the place for such heavy industrial activity,” said Olsen.

Olsen said that he would continue to maintain and build good relationships with the Malahat First Nation, “our relatives on the other side of the inlet”, and work with their MLA (and fellow Green) Sonia Furstenau to find more environmentally friendly ways to use the Bamberton site.

The Peninsula News Review has reached out to Steelhead LNG. This story will be updated as it unfolds.



reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com

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