* Seeks 25-year license to export 20 mln tonnes/yr of LNG
* Final investment decision on LNG project by end 2014
CALGARY, Alberta, July 5 (Reuters) - The Canadian unit ofMalaysia's Petronas said on Friday it has askedregulators for a license to export nearly 20 million tonnes ofliquefied natural gas a year from a C$11 billion ($10.4 billion)export facility it plans to build at the north end of BritishColumbia's Pacific Coast.
The company has applied to Canada's National Energy Boardfor the license, which would begin in 2019 and run for 25 years.
Petronas, which last year bought Canada's Progress EnergyResources Corp in a controversial C$5.2 billion deal that gaveit shale-gas properties in northeastern British Columbia, is thelatest company to seek approval for LNG exports from Canada'sPacific Coast.
Exxon Mobil Corp last month said it is asking for alicense to ship as much as 30 million tonnes of LNG per year toAsian markets, while Chevron Corp, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and others already have permits in hand for projectsthey plan.
Petronas said it expects to make a final decision on whetherto build its Pacific NorthWest LNG project by the end of nextyear.
"While we continue our work to reach a final investmentdecision in late 2014, we believe that our project has all ofthe key components of a successful, world-class LNGdevelopment," Greg Kist, president of Pacific NorthWest LNG,said in a statement.
Petronas, Malaysia's state-owned oil company, owns 90percent of the project, while Japan Petroleum Exploration Co, orJapex, holds the remainder.