Manitoba premier says Port of Churchill expansion could cost $80B and include offshore LNG terminal
Manitoba's premier is considering the expansion of the Port of Churchill to include an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. Studies suggest year-round shipping is feasible with ice-hardened vessels, though significant infrastructure investment would be required.
Why it matters
This project could transform Arctic shipping routes and energy exports, though it faces massive financial and environmental hurdles.
A series of studies suggests freighters hardened against ice can safely navigate Hudson Bay outside of the existing four-month Port of Churchill shipping season — but warn fully laden natural gas tankers hardened to withstand the force of sea ice can not manoeuvre within the shallow and narrow entrance to the existing port.
"Significant dredging, infrastructure modifications or development of an offshore loading facility would be required before such vessels could be employed at Churchill," concluded a feasibility study commissioned by Arctic Gateway Group, which owns the port and Hudson Bay Railway.
It cost $40 billion over 12 years to build a liquefied natural gas terminal at Kitimat, B.C., which is situated at the end of a long, protected inlet that drains into the Pacific Ocean.
An offshore terminal in Hudson Bay would be open to the prevailing northeastern winds on Hudson Bay.
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