| Lelu Island (British Columbia) | |
| Native Name: | Lax U’u’la |
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| Pushpin Map: | British Columbia |
| Pushpin Label: | Lelu Island |
| Coordinates: | 54.1997°N -130.2886°W |
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Lelu Island is an island of the Range 5 Coast Land District, of British Columbia, Canada, located in the Skeena Estuary between Smith and Ridley Islands.[1] Historically it has been inhabited by area First Nations.[2] Immediately southwest and associated with the island is the Flora Bank, a unique geomorphic feature supporting a critical fish habitat.[3]
Petronas made a proposal for a liquefied natural gas export facility on this island in 2013. In September 2015, members of Lax Kw'alaams Nation began occupation of a camp on the island in opposition to the facility.[4] In April 2016, the Prince Rupert Port Authority ordered a stop to construction of the camp.[5] In September 2016, the Canadian federal government approved the project[6] with 190 conditions, but members of the Lax Kw'alaams nation maintained their camp opposing the project.[7]
The proposal had previously been opposed by unanimous vote but then supported[8] by John Helin the mayor of the Lax Kw'alaams First Nation while still finding opposition among its hereditary chiefs, and is supported by Premier of British Columbia Christy Clark.[9]
On July 25, 2017, Petronas announced they were abandoning the proposed export facility.[10] The reasons for ending the project included market factors as well as political opposition.[11]