Frequently Asked Questions

What will you be storing?
We will be storing propane, gasoline, diesel and methanol.

• Propane is a clean-burning, efficient and versatile hydrocarbon produced mostly during natural gas extraction, with a small amount coming from oil refining. At normal temperature and pressure, propane is a gas. It changes to a liquid when cooled and moderately pressurized – about twice the pressure in a normal truck tire. It is stored and transported as a compressed liquid, but returns to a gas when pressure is released.1
• Both diesel and gasoline are refined from crude oil. In Canada, it is largely produced in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, with some produced off the coast of Newfoundland, and is refined across Canada, including two refineries in B.C.
• Methanol, or methyl-alcohol, is a clean-burning alternative fuel typically produced from natural gas, though it can be produced from biomass or coal. It is a clear, colourless liquid, with a faint alcohol-like odour. 

What are these products used for? 

These products are used for many day-to-day tasks in your own homes.

• Propane is used to heat our homes and businesses and cook our food, as fuel for our buses and in many manufacturing and industrial applications. 
• Gasoline and diesel move us and the goods we need around the world and can be used as a source of energy in generators.
• Methanol is used as a fuel and as feedstock to produce everything from clothing, to pharmaceuticals to the plywood that builds our homes.

Why are you considering this Project? 

There is an international demand for these products, but restricted market access. This project will address the shortage of market access, allowing our Canadian products to reach Asian markets, where there is strong demand. In doing so, the project will provide opportunities to Canada, BC, and the Prince Rupert area, including jobs, increased local spending and revenues to all levels of government.

Why build this project on Ridley Island?

Ridley Island is the ideal location to provide improved access to Asian markets for Canadian products. The Port of Prince Rupert is one of the safest harbours available for transiting deep sea vessels and their cargoes. The depth and width of the harbour — as well as its short, unobstructed access from open ocean to Ridley Island — accommodate large vessels safely. Finally, existing infrastructure, including a Canadian National Railway line, will allow for a minimal footprint, while allowing for separation from neighbouring communities. 

How are you consulting Indigenous Nations?
Our consultation has been guided by our commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for input and by the requirements of provincial and federal regulatory authorities. In accordance with regulatory order (Section 11 Order), Vopak is consulting six Indigenous Nations: Gitga’at First Nation, Gitxaała Nation, Kitselas First Nation, Kitsumkalum First Nation, Lax Kw’alaams Band and Metlakatla First Nation. Consultation activities have included meetings, information sharing, providing advanced copies of the Project Description, seeking and integrating input, and capacity funding discussions. More information can be found in the 2019 Indigenous Consultation Report here. We will continue to engage with Indigenous Nations throughout the life of the Project. 

How will this benefit the community?
The Project will provide short and long-term economic benefits to First Nations and communities. This will include:

• Revenue flowing to federal ($141 million), provincial ($137 million) and local governments from direct payments and indirect and induced economic activity. (Figures from Statistics Canada Inter-Provincial Input-Output Model)
• We anticipate hiring 250 full-time workers during the construction phase, 39 workers during operation, and 125 workers during the decommissioning phase of the project. A further 2,700 indirect full-time jobs and almost 900 induced jobs is anticipated per year of construction. 
• A local training and employment program will be developed.
• We anticipate purchasing about $62 million from local suppliers during construction and about $3.5 million per year during operation. (Figures based on Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal figures )

We have a local-first approach for employment, contracting and purchasing. Vopak invites interested suppliers and contractors to fill out a vendor information form which can be accessed here.

Will this project cause a lot of disruption in the community?
We will seek to minimize disturbance and disruption to the community throughout the construction and operation of our Project. During construction, workers will be bused to the work site to limit traffic, and they will not leave the camp during off hours unless there is an emergency. Light and noise management plans will be in place to limit disturbance and gravel roads will be sprayed with water to limit dust.

How many extra trains and ships will this mean for the area?
We expect 240 cars or 2.4 trains per day at full operating capacity. At full capacity, a vessel could be loaded once every three days at the terminal, or approximately 171 vessels per year, depending on demand.

How will you prevent a spill or other incident? 

We handle hazardous products – so, safety is our top priority. Our highly trained and qualified workers will build and operate this project to the highest standards. Extensive safety control systems and measures will provide layers of protection to prevent any harm to people or the environment. These include containment systems, preventative maintenance, emergency detection and emergency shut down systems. Traffic into the Project by rail, vehicle or vessel will be slow and controlled.

When will construction begin?
Following regulatory approval, construction can begin in late 2022/early 2023. Construction is anticipated to take two years.