VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The British Columbia Public Utilities Commission (BCUC) today approved FortisBC Energy Inc.'s application. (FortisBC) for the Tilbury liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage expansion project.
The project involves the construction of a new, larger LNG storage tank at FortisBC's Tilbury facility in Delta, British Columbia. The new tank will replace the existing tank, which expired 56 years ago.
Following a transparent and public review process that included submissions from eight members and feedback from individual British Columbians, the BCUC determined that the project was in the public interest.
In its decision, the BCUC agreed that replacement of the existing LNG storage tank is necessary for FortisBC to continue to reliably meet customers' growing energy needs during peak periods.
The BCUC also found that building a larger reservoir would eliminate the risk of resiliency in FortisBC's natural gas delivery system. FortisBC currently sources 85% of the natural gas it supplies to customers from a single third-party pipeline. Expanded LNG storage will help reduce the risk of supply disruptions by providing backup storage for natural gas. Two-thirds of the new storage tank will be set aside as reserve for unexpected supply disruptions, and the remaining volume will be used to meet customers' energy needs on high demand days.
FortisBC has confirmed that the new storage tank will be used exclusively to store and supply natural gas to consumers. It will not be used to supply LNG for fueling ships or for export of LNG. As a condition of approval, any future changes to the use of the storage tank will require further approval.
The project is expected to be operational by 2030 at an estimated cost of $1.14 billion. During the six-year construction period, the delivery share of customer rates will gradually increase by an average of approximately 1.78% per year. Once constructed, the new storage tank is expected to reduce the need for offsite gas storage and delivery, resulting in long-term cost savings for customers.
Concluding that the project is in the public interest, the BCUC issued FortisBC a Certificate of Public Benefit and Necessity for the Tilbury LNG storage expansion project.
For more information about the BCUC decision or the FortisBC application, see next page.
Background
Following a review of FortisBC's initial application for approval of the project, the BCUC required FortisBC to provide substantially more information about the condition of existing equipment at Tilbury and the risks of supply disruptions in order to properly assess the need for the project.
Utilities must apply to the BCUC for approval of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity before commencing construction or operation of a utility facility or system, or renewal of both, in accordance with Section 45 of the Public Utility Law. Public Utilities Commission Act.
About BCUC
The BCUC is an independent regulator responsible for regulating British Columbia's energy companies, auto insurance base rates and intraprovincial pipeline rates. The BCUC's role is to balance the interests of taxpayers and other stakeholders with the interests of the businesses it regulates. The BCUC conducts fair and transparent consideration of matters within its jurisdiction and takes public opinion into account when the public interest is affected. BCUC is also the administrator of BC. Fuel Price Transparency Act and is responsible for collecting and publishing information on gasoline and diesel fuel production activities in British Columbia to improve competitiveness and public confidence in the fuel market.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Kelsey Newsham
Senior Public Relations Specialist
Phone: 604.660.4713.
E-mail: [email protected]
