Irving Oil may construct the first new liquefied-natural-gas receiving and regasification terminal on the East Coast of North America in 30 years. The Saint John, New Brunswick-based oil company has received provincial and federal approvals for the $571-million project, which will break ground by next spring at the deepwater Irving Canaport terminal, near Saint John.

Detailed engineering by a "large, international engineering firm with experience in LNG" has already begun, says Jennifer Parker, Irving spokeswoman. She declined to identify the company. The project will comprise three 160,000-cu-meter storage tanks, regasification facilities and a pier, with throughput capacity of 1 billion cu ft per day.

The company is prequalifying contractors but has not yet determined contracting terms, says Parker. The terminal is expected to begin operation in 2007.