Liquefied Natural Gas to expand production capacity of Bear Head LNG project

Liquefied Natural Gas has filed for modifications to the existing construction and environmental permits for its Bear Head liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The application, which was submitted to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board and Nova Scotia Environment, includes the expansion of the initial facility production capacity to 8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) from the initial 4 mtpa.

Bear Head LNG project is being developed on a 255-acre site which features 180-acre industrial-zoned land and 75-acre deep-water acreage.

More than $100m was invested by the project’s prior owners in the early 2000’s maintaining the facility in hot-idle status since then.

The project already has permits to construct an LNG facility and a gas plant facility.

A final investment decision on the project is anticipated in late 2015 to 2016 with commercial production commencing in late 2018 to 2019.

Liquefied Natural Gas chief operating officer John Godbold Bear Head said: "This is a major step in adapting Bear Head LNG’s 12 existing construction and environmental permits to an export project. These key regulatory filings help maintain our accelerated pace in executing the project development plan.

"Bear Head LNG is targeting a higher rate of production capacity based on market response and gas supply projections. This change also reflects our conversations with regulatory agencies and political leaders."

Australia-based Liquefied Natural Gas is also developing the 8mtpa Magnolia LNG project at Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The company purchased 100% of the stock and assets of Bear Head LNG Corporation in August 2014 from a subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum for $11m.

Image: Aerial View of the Bear Head LNG Project Site, Nova Scotia, Canada. Photo: Courtesy of Liquefied Natural Gas Limited.