(EnergyAsia, July 8 2013, Monday) — The Canadian subsidiary of Malaysia’s state energy firm Petronas said it has applied for a licence for the annual export of 19.68 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its proposed terminal in western British Columbia province.

Pacific NorthWest LNG has applied to the National Energy Board (NEB) to begin export from the 12-million-tonne Port Edward terminal from 2019 for 25 years. Expected to cost between C$9 billion and C$11 billion, the project will create up to 3,500 direct jobs during construction, the company said.

Once operational, the LNG facility, which is 90% owned by Petronas and 10% by Japan’s Japex, will create 200 to 300 permanent, full-time jobs.

The plant will be supplied with natural gas sourced primarily from reserves owned by Progress Energy Canada in northeast British Columbia. Petronas bought Calgary-based Progress Energy in a C$6-billion friendly deal last year.

Greg Kist, Pacific NorthWest LNG’s president, said:

“While we continue our work to reach a final investment decision in late 2014, we believe that our project has all of the key components of a successful, world-class LNG development.”

British Columbia’s Premier Christy Clark said:

“Pacific NorthWest LNG’s export application is more welcome news, which will help us achieve our goal to be a leader in clean energy supply and export.

“Our ability to reach new markets will enable British Columbia’s natural gas to create new jobs, strengthen our economy, and lead to a debt-free future.”