Republished August 25, 2015 - 5:32 AM
Original Publication Date August 24, 2015 - 3:00 PM
BECANCOUR, - The Quebec government has given the green light to a nearly $800-million project to build a liquefied natural gas plant in Becancour.
Niels Stolt-Nielsen, CEO of Stolt-Nielsen Ltd. and a principal shareholder in the Stolt LNGaz project, announced the go-ahead Monday at an event attended by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.
Nielsen also announced a transportation partnership agreement with Quebec trucking firm Somavrac and Petro-Nav, a subsidiary of Groupe Desgagnes that specializes in maritime transport of bulk liquids.
Construction of the LNG plant near Trois-Rivieres is expected to create nearly 200 direct jobs before opening in 2018.
The company says more than 100 direct and indirect jobs should be created once the plant is in operation.
Stolt LNGaz Inc. is a Quebec-registered company whose partners are Stolt-Nielsen Gas, SunLNG and LNGaz.
The project has received environmental approvals since it was announced more than a year ago to provide LNG to industries in Quebec not served by the existing natural gas pipeline distribution network.
It was also looking to export LNG to industrial customers in Atlantic and northern Canada, as well as to customers in Europe and the United States.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said the project was the province's first liquefied natural gas plant.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2015