LNG carrier arrives to load first LNG Canada cargo

“The carrier GasLog Glasgow has safely arrived at the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, in the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation, where it will receive made-in-British Columbia LNG for export,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson did not say when the Shell-chartered LNG carrier is expected to depart the facility.

LNG giant Shell started production at the first liquefaction train at its LNG Canada export terminal on June 22.

LNG Canada is Canada’s first large LNG export facility.

One of the largest private investments in Canadian history, the plant will initially produce 14 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) LNG for export.

With a proposed Phase 2 expansion, Shell and its partners plan to double the terminal’s capacity to 28 mtpa.

Besides operator Shell, other partners in the project include Malaysia’s Petronas, PetroChina, Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, and South Korea’s Kogas.

Contractor JGC Fluor is constructing the first phase of the project.

In May, Shell’s finance chief, Sinead Gorman, said during the company’s earnings call that the company remains on track to deliver the first LNG cargo from its export terminal in Kitimat in the middle of this year.

Shell CEO Wael Sawan also noted during the call that the first train will start up, and “then there’s a lag until you get to the second train.”

This was followed by the arrival of the 173,400-cbm LNG carrier, Maran Gas Roxana, in Kitimat with a cargo of LNG from Australia.

The cargo was used for the start-up and commissioning process in advance of LNG Canada’s operations.