Why is the Rabaska Project necessary?

Gaz Metro, Enbridge Inc., and Gaz de France are 3 key proponents of the $700 million Rabaska Project which involves the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal facility in the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City, Quebec. LNG is a natural gas that has been cooled to a temperature of -160 degrees C. As such, it occupies a fraction of the volume of conventional natural gas, allowing it to be transported economically in great quantities by marine tankers designed specifically for LNG transport. LNG is colourless and odourless and is not under pressure. It is not corrosive nor toxic. It is also lighter than water and therefore floats on its surface. LNG does not burn and is not explosive because it does not contain oxygen. When exposed to ambient temperature, LNG converts to natural gas and its vapours are readily diluted into the air. As a proven technology, LNG has been used for the past 40 years in many countries including France, Belgium, Spain, Korea, the United States and Japan. Although LNG is not widely used in Canada, 7 projects have been proposed, of which 2 have received regulatory approvals. The Rabaska Project would allow Quebec to draw on the economic advantages of developing a source of energy that is increasing in demand. Quebec currently gets its natural gas from the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin via TransCanada Pipelines Inc. The Rabaska Project offers an alternative gas supply to the current quasi-monopolistic situation and also offers a viable solution to the declining supply of conventional natural gas. The Rabaska Project would require the construction of 2 LNG terminal facilities along the St. Lawrence River to receive tanker ships and the associated infrastructure, including a pipeline. Following the regasification of LNG, natural gas would be transported via a new pipeline to an existing pipeline operated by Gazoduc TQM Inc. which serves the Quebec Ontario corridor. 2 figs