Crystal Smith, Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation, stands outside Kitamaat Village, B.C., in February, 2020. Nearly 93 per cent of Haisla members supported plans by the elected band council to borrow money for the Cedar LNG development.are closer to approving a US$3.4-billion plan to export liquefied natural gas from British Columbia after Haisla members voted overwhelmingly in favour of backing the energy project.
Haisla chief councillor Crystal Smith confirmed that the project has reached a major milestone in completing the ratification process. The Kitimat project’s co-owners have estimated that Cedar will require US$3.4-billion in capital spending and US$600-million in other expenses, including interest paid through financing arrangements during construction, as well as transaction costs.
Ms. Smith said it is crucial that the Haisla maintain the majority stake in the Cedar partnership with Pembina, which acquired its 49.9-per-cent stake in 2021. “We work with all the customers that come and we do the best job we can in meeting their needs and their timelines,” BC Hydro chief executive officer Chris O’Riley said in an interview.Calgary-based ARC Resources Ltd. has agreed to be a major supplier of natural gas for Cedar, with a 20-year commitment to provide about 45 per cent of the project’s annual capacity.