Prince Rupert, B.C. – Kitimat may not be the only B.C. community to benefit from the race to export liquefied natural gas.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority has announced that it is in talks with a major international player in the natural gas sector with the hopes of establishing an LNG export terminal. Port Authority spokesperson Michael Gurney says negotiations with the UK based BG Group have been ongoing for a few months now.

Gurney says the proposed facility would be built at Ridley Island, which is zoned for industrial port development. He adds it would be a good fit, noting that the liquid bulk terminals was part of the port’s land-use management plan circulated last year.

“Discussions with BG are preliminary. We’re engaged with them in ensuring that they known as much about the advantages of the Prince Rupert Port that they can and they’re certainly optimistic as are we that this would be a good fit for their LNG facility.

Gurney says the port expects to have a better idea about whether the development will proceed within the next 12 to 24 months.