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Énergir’s LSR Plant: Liquid insurance 

Established in 1968, the Liquefaction, Storage and Regasification (LSR) plant is a strategic gas supply site for Énergir and its subsidiary, Gaz Métro LNG. It’s the only plant of its kind in eastern Canada. 

Preparing for any eventuality 

Located in Montréal Est, the LSR plant houses two huge reservoirs that can hold up to 59 million m3 of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Stored in liquid form, LNG takes up 600 times less space than natural gas in its gaseous state. This enables the LSR plant to provide Énergir with a safety reserve at all times to meet ad hoc needs, either during peak consumption—particularly during periods of severe winter cold—or in an emergency. 

A time-tested process 

Énergir’s Gas Supply department sends regasification requests via the Gas Control Centre (GCC) to the plant, according to the volumes needed. The LNG is then “vaporized” (regasified) using burners until it returns to its gaseous state. Once converted, the gas is reinjected into Énergir’s network. 

LNG is making headway 

Some of the LNG stored at the LSR plant (10 million m3) is used to supply industrial facilities not serviced by Québec’s gas network, as well as the province’s road and maritime transportation companies. Other reserves are earmarked for export to the United States, where LNG is also used for industrial purposes. The plant exports supply via two loading docks, where tanker trucks are filled to transport their valuable cargo directly to customers. These operations are managed by Gaz Métro LNG, which transports and delivers LNG within 1,500 km of the plant. 

Growing needs 

With the addition of a second liquefaction train in 2017, the LSR plant now has an annual production capacity of 8.5 Bcf. This allows it to meet not only peak shaving (levelling) needs, but also to handle growing demand in many sectors, notably due to the environmental advantages of LNG. Natural gas significantly reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fine particulate matter compared to diesel and oil—two commonly used energy sources in transportation and several other industries. 

Every fall, the plant liquefies the gas volumes needed to reach full storage capacity by early winter. 

Safety is a priority 

All plant activities tightly monitored to ensure that the site and its operations are secure. Liquefaction train no. 1, for example, is managed from a control room and monitored outside by an operator. Similarly, when the tanker trucks are being filled, the process is monitored by a Loading clerk. To keep the site running 24/7, the plant has 26 employees who work around the clock, in addition to a security guard who controls access to the site. Furthermore, since 2022, the plant has deployed a project to make employees more versatile “in order to add flexibility to operations and provide better customer service,” explains Alfonso Paolino, Senior Director of the LSR plant.