Huu-ay-aht First Nations and Steelhead LNG will continue to explore the proposed development of a US$30 billion LNG Project at Sarita Bay on Vancouver Island. This follows Huu-ay-aht citizens voting in favour Saturday at the Nation's People's Assembly in Port Alberni. The proposed Project, which includes a 24-mtpa (million tonnes per annum) land-based facility, is one of the largest proposed LNG projects in British Columbia.
The People's Assembly vote approved the lease of Huu-ay-aht Treaty Settlement Lands to the proposed Project and the carrying out of environmental, traditionaluse and technical studies in advance of a final investment decision expected in 2018. T The vote came after months of intensive community engagement with Huu-ay-aht citizens, which saw Huu-ay-aht government and staff members, Steelhead CEO Nigel Kuzemko and Steelhead LNG engineers and staff members meet regularly with Huu-ay-aht elders and citizens.
The work included community engagement sessions, home visits, visits for Steelhead LNG staff to key Huu-ay-aht cultural sites, as well as a tour of hydraulic fracturing operations in Alberta by Huuay-aht citizens.
"Today's vote is an indication that our Nation is open for business and that certainty can be achieved for projects on First Nations territory in BC," said Jeff Cook, Elected Chief Councillor of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations.