BURSTThe B.C. Energy Regulator has ordered LNG Canada to address repeated violations tied to black smoke emissions during flaring at its Kitimat facility, following inspections that found the company was not complying with permit conditions.
The regulator said inspections identified multiple instances where flaring produced black smoke beyond allowable limits, triggering enforcement under the Energy Resource Activities Act. BCER said in a press release, “This order is part of the strong oversight the BCER is providing for this project, ensuring that steps are being taken to address flaring issues to prevent further emission of black smoke and compliance with permit conditions.”
Black smoke occurs when fuel is not fully burned. While the regulator emphasized the issue does not pose an immediate safety threat, it said corrective action is required. BCER said, “Air quality readings in the Kitimat area have not indicated flaring is causing an immediate or imminent risk to public safety or the environment.” Monitoring in the area will continue.
BCER stated its reasons stem from LNG Canada’s failure to meet conditions set out in its amended permit governing flaring. The regulator said the permit requires flaring systems to be designed and operated so that black smoke does not occur during normal operations, and is limited during process upsets to no more than 15 minutes within a two-hour period.
According to the order, inspections conducted Feb. 10–12 identified at least two instances where those conditions were not met. On Jan. 6, LNG Canada recorded black smoke emissions lasting more than seven hours during non-emergency conditions. A second event on Jan. 7 lasted more than two hours, also outside emergency circumstances. BCER concluded from these findings that the company was not in compliance with its permit.
To address the problem, LNG Canada must now report any future black smoke events lasting longer than 15 minutes within 48 hours, including timing, causes and whether the event occurred during normal operations, an upset or an emergency. The company is also required to submit a detailed analysis by Aug. 15 identifying the root causes of the emissions and outlining how they will be prevented.
By Oct. 15, LNG Canada must implement those corrective measures. From October through March 2027, the company will be required to file monthly reports, prepared by a qualified professional, assessing whether those measures are working.
“Submitted reports will be reviewed by BCER experts to ensure measures are in place to prevent further emission of black smoke,” BCER said.
Black Press Media has reached out to LNG Canada for comment.
The company addressed district council in February about a prolonged period of elevated flaring at its Kitimat facility, including visible black smoke, saying it was linked to an equipment issue with a flare tip identified in late 2024 that led to significantly higher-than-normal volumes of gas being burned.
The company said it followed required protocols by confirming the technical cause before notifying the B.C. Energy Regulator, and pointed to regulator-mandated air quality monitoring that showed minimal impacts in nearby communities, with only small or negligible levels of key pollutants recorded at local monitoring stations despite the increased flaring.
The BCER order to address the black smoke took effect April 22 and will remain in place until the regulator determines the company has met its requirements or amends the order.