More than half of British Columbians polled say they support a $13-billion Kitimat oil refinery proposed by newspaper publisher David Black, according to a poll commissioned by Black.

After being provided with information about the refinery, 22 per cent strongly supported it and 30 per cent were moderately supportive. Of those surveyed, 24 per cent were strongly opposed to the project and 14 per cent moderately opposed. Another 10 per cent were not sure of their opinion.

The Mustel poll, which did 800 online interviews between Feb. 18-24, also found nearly eight in 10 British Columbians are aware of the proposal.

Information provided to poll respondents included information on the scope of the project, including estimated jobs and tax revenue, said Evi Mustel, owner of the Mustel Group.

For example, poll respondents were told that the project would create 3,000 permanent jobs, 6,000 jobs during construction, and "considerable tax revenues" for B.C. and Canada. Poll respondents were also told the refinery would be built with state-of-the-art and world-leading technology that minimizes pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The poll has an estimated margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The reasons people cited most often for support, after being provided information about the project, were economic benefits for B.C. (20 per cent) and that it would create jobs (17 per cent).

Those that were opposed cited environmental concerns (21 per cent), concerns about oil spills (nine per cent) and distrust and skepticism of the information provided (9 per cent).

Last fall, Black floated the idea of building the Kitimat refinery in northwest B.C. to reframe the discussion on Enbridge's controversial $6-billion proposed Northern Gateway oil pipeline by promising 10 times as many jobs as the pipeline and eliminating the shipment of oil off the coast.

The idea is to process all of the 550,000 barrels a day of Alberta oilsands bitumen from the pipeline at the refinery, and then ship the lighter refined products such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene to Asia. Black argues if there was a tanker spill, the refined products would cause less environmental damage than oil because they float and evaporate.

When Black floated the idea last fall, he had no expressions of interest from oilsands producers or buyers, no partners and no financing. Enbridge has not endorsed Black's idea.

If an environmentally sound method of transporting bitumen from Alberta to the refinery in B.C. were found, the poll indicated support for the proposal increased to 66 per cent and opposition decreased to 24 per cent.

There is significant opposition to the 1,177-kilometre Northern Gateway pipeline among northern B.C. First Nations, environmental groups and some northwest B.C. communities.

The National Energy Board is leading a federal review of the pipeline project and is expected to deliver its findings before the end of this year.

ghoekstra@vancouversun.com