LNG Canada, Shell’s liquified natural gas export project, can now restart its construction in the British Columbia province after the Office of Public Health approved to restart works at the site, the company announced this Thursday.
Firstly, activities in the site were curtailed last month, after an order from the provincial health officer mandated it, as a measure to contain the covid-19 spread.
Secondly, the order applied to five major projects in Canada: Coastal Gas Link, BC Hydro Site, the Transmountain Expansion; also, to Rio Tinto Kemano, and also, to LNG Canada. Now, the company, which is a joint venture with JGC I Fluor, received the approval after it reinforced its protection protocols.
In addition, the company reports a new scheme to contain and manage the covid-19 disease among its workforce. The new protocol includes a mandatory covid-19 rapid screening; which consists in a rapid screening with an antigen test, applied to workers before their entrance to the site in Kitimat.
“Phase 1 of our rapid screening program was implemented in early January at our charter hubs in Calgary and Edmonton. Moreover, we plan to expand the program to our B.C. hubs in February (Vancouver, Kelowna and Nanaimo); as well as at our project site in Kitimat,” the company says.
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LNG Canada to enter service in 2025
In addition to this rapid screening, the company has implemented an on-site medical facility with a dozen healthcare professionals; as well as an emergency response team. This team will provide with medical care to the company’s personnel.
The facility will be equipped with three medical clinics, five nurses, an advanced paramedic team; also, isolation wings for any worker with symptoms or confirmed covid-19; increased supplies including medical oxygen, among others.
Finally, the company underlines: “we continue to mandate the policy to forbid all non-local Project workers from leaving the site. The only exception to that rule is in the case of a medical emergency or when attending a critical appointment that cannot be postponed or held virtually.”
LNG Canada is currently the only LNG export plant under construction in Canada. It will cost an approximate $40 billion Canadian dollars, and will produce 14 million tons of LNG a year: Also, 1,8 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Due to the delay, project will enter service around 2025.
