POINT TUPPER, N.S. — The company behind a proposed liquefied natural gas project in Nova Scotia says they have filed an application with the National Energy Board for an export licence.

Bear Head LNG Corporation, a subsidy of the Australia-based Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd., says its asking for licences to import natural gas from the United States and export liquefied natural gas for a 25-year term.

If approved, the plant would be authorized to export eight million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year beginning in 2019.

That would increase to 12 million tonnes per year in 2024, depending on market and supply conditions.

“At this point, all of our major Canadian governmental approvals are in place or applications are before the regulators. Our NEB filing represents a major milestone for the Bear Head LNG project,” said Chief Operating
Officer and Project Director John Godbold.

The company says all major federal government approval for the Bear Head LNG plant in Point Tupper are either in place or the applications are before regulators.

Bear Head LNG retained Roland Priddle, former Chair of the NEB, who suggests that the Nova Scotia and Maritimes natural gas market could benefit from projects anchoring large-volume incremental supplies of natural gas. “In this connection, the Bear Head LNG project, because of its major gas requirements, could be the catalyst for a more effective Maritimes gas market  functioning.”

Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd. bought the site from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in an $11 million-deal that closed in August. (CIGO)