The Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF) is a large-scale export terminal under construction in British Columbia, Canada. It is being developed to handle Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other bulk liquid products.
The project is a 50:50 joint venture between AltaGas, a Canadian energy infrastructure company and the facility’s operator, and Vopak Development Canada (VDC), a subsidiary of Royal Vopak, a Dutch tank storage and logistics firm. Previously known as the Vopak Pacific Canada Project, REEF is being developed in multiple phases.
The joint venture partners reached their Final Investment Decision (FID) in May 2024. The estimated capital expenditure for the project is CAD1.35bn, not including government incentives or support. Construction officially commenced in June 2024 with the start of jetty works.
The facility is expected to be completed by September 2026, with commercial export operations scheduled to begin later the same year. Upon completion, REEF will export products including propane, butane, methanol, and Clean Petroleum Products (CPPs).
Ridley Island Energy Export Facility Location
REEF is located on Ridley Island, approximately 1.6km west of the District of Port Edward and 10.5km south of the Port of Prince Rupert. Marine shipping operations will be conducted in the waters between the marine terminal and Triple Island.
The development occupies a 77ha site situated adjacent to the existing Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET), which is also operated by AltaGas and Vopak. The land has been leased from the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA).
Background
AltaGas and Vopak formed the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility GP joint venture in 2018. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process commenced in September 2018 and continued over a five-year period.
In November 2020, Vopak submitted an application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate to the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) of British Columbia.
The certificate was granted in April 2021 under the provisions of the Environmental Assessment Act 2002. Vopak subsequently published the project’s environmental assessment report in September 2021.
The joint venture was formally registered by AltaGas and Vopak in April 2023. Following authorisation from the PRPA, site preparation began in December 2023.
The Environmental Assessment Certificate was officially transferred from Vopak to the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility GP in January 2024. In February 2024, the joint venture signed a mutual benefit agreement with the Kitselas First Nation for the project.
Ridley Island Energy Export Facility Infrastructure
The facility’s infrastructure will include a bulk liquids tank storage facility and a marine terminal, along with supporting systems and utilities. The storage facility will feature a maximum capacity of 98,000m3 for LPG, 260,000m3 for light diesel and gasoline, and 220,000m3 for methanol. Supporting infrastructure will include piping networks, racks, pumps, compressors, and associated components.
Two gas turbines, each rated at 16.5MW and fuelled by ethane, will provide up to 20MW of power generation capacity. Additional infrastructure will include pressure vessels for LPG with up to 8,000m3 of storage capacity, communication facilities, and fire protection systems.
The marine terminal will feature a jetty extending up to 1.2km from the shoreline, supported by as many as 12 piers. The terminal will also include two parallel multi-buoy mooring systems capable of berthing vessels with a capacity of up to 85,000m3. A dedicated fire pump platform will be installed along the jetty.
Rail infrastructure at the site will comprise up to 50 double-sided unloading racks. These facilities will enable the transfer of up to 11m3 per year of LPG, diesel, gasoline, and methanol. Ten dual-sided rail car offloading slots will be constructed within the PRPA boundaries to support these operations.
Project Details
In the initial operational phase, LPG products such as propane and butane will be recovered as by-products of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. These fuels will be transported to the facility by rail.
Upon arrival, the liquids will be chilled to the required temperatures and stored in pressurised, refrigerated tanks.
The products will then be loaded onto Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) for distribution to international markets.
Contractors Involved
AltaGas and Vopak jointly completed the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) work for the project.
The Environmental Impact Assessment was prepared by the joint venture of LK Enterprises and Stantec, operating under Stantec Consulting, a firm that specialises in sustainable engineering and environmental consulting services.
