Shell’s LNG Canada nears first LNG

LNG Canada announced on its website that a new flaring activity, associated with the start-up of the first train, is scheduled to begin on June 16.

“During this activity, the flare height will vary between 20 metres and 60 metres. We anticipate intermittent visible emissions (black smoke) from the flare,” LNG Canada said.

“As LNG Canada continues its safe start-up activities, the size of our flare will regularly increase and decrease. This is a normal part of the commissioning process as we advance towards delivering Canada’s first LNG export facility,” the JV said.

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.

Middle of 2025

Last month, 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 is being used for the start-up and commissioning process in advance of LNG Canada’s operations.

Recently, there have been reports on LNG carriers heading to Kitimat to pick up some of the first cargoes produced at the LNG Canada facility.

This includes the 174,000-cbm LNG carrier, Puteri Sejinjang, chartered by Petronas.

According to its AIS data provided by VesselsValue, the LNG carrier is expected to arrive in Kitimat around July 6.

LNG Prime invited LNG Canada to comment on the first shipment, but we did not receive a reply.