MapleLNG gets environmental approval for LNG facility
14 March 2007
FT.com

Minister of Environment and Labour, MapleLNG received environmental approval from the province of Nova Scotia for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation and regasification facility in Goldboro, Nova Scotia. The LNG terminal will be located adjacent to the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline intake station at the Sable Offshore Energy Gas Plant in Goldboro. Its location will enable MapleLNG to serve the substantial Canadian and U.S. natural gas markets as of 2010. 

The project was subject to a full provincial environmental assessment (EA) including a six-day public hearing process that was held in November 2006. Keltic Petrochemicals also received approval for a petrochemical  facility.

"MapleLNG is pleased to be moving ahead with its LNG facility in Nova Scotia. Through our shareholders, 4Gas and Suntera, we have a very strong international presence and will form part of a global integrated LNG portfolio," said Derek Owen, General Manager, MapleLNG. "As operator of this
regasification terminal we have the ability to market upstream and downstream, a strategic advantage in the LNG marketplace with suppliers seeking access to the premium value natural gas markets afforded in the North Eastern United States and Canada."

The environmental approval is subject to a number of recommendations that relate to the liquefied natural gas project. MapleLNG is satisfied with the conditions of the environmental approval and will work with the applicable agencies as it proceeds to the next steps in LNG project development.

MapleLNG will construct and operate the LNG importation and regasification facility in Goldboro. The next step for the LNG project is approval of a permit to construct - an application will be submitted to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) by May, 2007. Scheduled start of production is 2010.

Other regulatory steps for the LNG project include the completion of the Federal Environmental Assessment process, other approvals required under the Nova Scotia Environment Act, and the Technical Review Process of Marine Terminal Systems and Transshipment Sites (TERMPOL). TERMPOL will assess navigation, operational ship safety, and port security. The project must also
meet stringent provincial regulations such as: air quality regulations, and dangerous goods regulations, and it must also comply with federal regulations including the Canada Shipping Act, portions of the Fisheries Act; and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. MapleLNG is confident these regulatory approvals will be obtained in due course.

MapleLNG is a Nova Scotia company and the Canadian subsidiary of 4Gas and Suntera. 4Gas is an independent company located in Rotterdam, solely dedicated to developing and operating liquified natural gas import terminals around the world. Suntera is an international energy company with oil and gas assets in West Africa, North America and India.

MapleLNG will serve the substantial Canadian and North Eastern United States natural gas markets through an LNG terminal strategically located adjacent to a pipeline transmission system that transports natural gas from Nova Scotia to markets in Canada and the North Eastern United States. In March 2006, 4Gas and Suntera Canada Ltd. purchased the MapleLNG project, located at
Goldboro, Nova Scotia.

Project Backgrounder

Provincial environmental approval has been received for a liquefied natural gas importation and regasification facility in Goldboro, Nova Scotia.

The LNG importation and regasification facility at Goldboro will consist of:

• Marine facilities to accommodate LNG carriers up to 250,000 cubic metres
• Three LNG storage tanks of 160,000 cubic metres, expandable to six tanks
• Regasification facilities
• The ability to transmit one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, expandable to two billion cubic feet of natural gas per day
• MapleLNG will construct and operate the LNG importation and regasification facility with a scheduled start of production in 2010
• MapleLNG will serve the Canadian and North Eastern United States natural gas markets through its terminal strategically located adjacent to a pipeline transmission system that transports natural gas from Nova Scotia to markets in Canada and the North Eastern United States

Note to the editors:

For additional information about MapleLNG please contact Bonnie Sheppard 902-482-0028 or refer to our website: www.maplelng.com.

For additional information about 4Gas please contact Harry van Rietschoten (4Gas) via +31 10 24 26 057 or Valerie Roos via +31 20 3055 900.

For additional information about Suntera please contact Paul Kettlety at +44 207 201 5200.

About 4Gas

4Gas is dedicated to developing and operating LNG import regasification and storage terminals around the world. It is the world's only independent company with a focus on LNG and a global footprint.

Current projects include Dragon LNG in Milford Haven, Wales; the LionGas project in Rotterdam, The Netherlands; the Pegaz LNG project near Bordeaux, France; the MapleLNG project in Nova Scotia, Canada; and the Vista del Sol project near Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. 4Gas has offices in Rotterdam (HQ), London, Houston, Halifax, Paris, Jakarta, Bordeaux, Moscow, Islamabad, Abuja and Hong Kong.
For further information on 4Gas please refer to our website: www.4Gas.com

About Suntera

Suntera is a joint venture between SUN Energy, the energy investment arm of the SUN Group, a private investment group active in Russia, India, Europe and the U.S.; and ITERA, one of the largest oil and gas companies of Russia.

Suntera is a fast growing integrated energy company, having a strong management team. In a very short time span, Suntera has acquired oil and gas assets in West Africa, North America and India.

For further information on the SUN Group, please refer to www.sungroup-global.com

For further information on ITERA, please refer to http://www.itera.ru

For further information: about MapleLNG please contact: Bonnie Sheppard, (902) 482-0028; or refer to our website: www.maplelng.com; about 4Gas please contact: Harry van Rietschoten (4Gas), +31 10 24 26 057; Valerie Roos, +31 20 3055 900; about Suntera please contact: Paul Kettlety; +44 207 201 5200.

ENDS