BC Fast-Tracks $2B Tilbury LNG Expansion, Skips Utility Permit Review
The British Columbia government has cleared a major regulatory hurdle for FortisBC’s $2-billion expansion of the Tilbury LNG facility in Delta, according to a Canadian Press report via BOE Report, issuing an order-in-council that exempts the utility from obtaining a standard permit before construction.
Market Impact
Energy Minister Adrian Dix says the exemption removes the requirement for FortisBC to secure a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the BC Utilities Commission, the standard approval process for utility plant expansions in the province. Skipping that step, Dix says, will save time and clear the way for the investment, along with the creation of 1,100 jobs during construction and $260 million in tax revenues.
The project remains subject to other applicable regulatory approvals and permitting requirements before construction begins, which the province says could start as early as mid-2027, with operations beginning in 2031. The Tilbury site, in continuous operation since 1971 as a peak-demand gas storage facility, now produces LNG for vessels and is working with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority on a marine refuelling service. FortisBC president Roger Dall’Antonia says the site already supplies Seaspan Ferries and BC Ferries, and the expansion would position Vancouver as a leading LNG marine fuelling hub on the West Coast. Fortis Inc CEO David Hutchins says the project builds on partnerships with government and First Nations and will help lower system costs for customers.
A separate proposal, Tilbury Phase 2, is still moving through BC’s environmental assessment process. Public comment on that phase runs until July 27, 2026, with a government decision expected in late 2026.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Mechanical, electrical, and civil subcontractors in Metro Vancouver should track FortisBC’s procurement announcements now that permitting delays are removed; construction could start by mid-2027, well ahead of the original CPCN timeline.
- Marine and port-adjacent trades, including dock work tied to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority refuelling partnership, may see early scope packages as the bunkering infrastructure develops alongside the plant expansion.
- Firms with LNG storage, cryogenic piping, or gas processing experience have a two-year-plus window before the 2031 operational target to position for FortisBC’s construction bid packages.
- Companies interested in the separate Tilbury Phase 2 expansion should note the public comment period closes July 27, 2026, with a provincial decision expected in late 2026, a second potential wave of work at the same site.
- First Nations partnership commitments cited by Fortis Inc leadership suggest joint venture or local hire requirements could factor into subcontract terms; firms should confirm these provisions directly with FortisBC procurement once packages are released.
