(Adds quote from LNG Canada CEO, project details)
By Julie Gordon
VANCOUVER, June 17 (Reuters) - Canada's environment ministrysaid on Wednesday it approved a Royal Dutch Shell Plc-led liquefied natural gas export terminal on BritishColumbia's coast, contingent on the project meeting 50environmental, social and operational conditions.
In her decision, federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaqconcluded that the effects of the proposed LNG Canada project"are justified in the circumstances."
She said the project would create thousands of jobs andcontribute billions of dollars to the economy.
The province of British Columbia also issued anenvironmental certificate for the export terminal on Wednesday,listing 24 conditions, including monitoring its environmentalimpact and ongoing consultation with aboriginal people and localcommunities.
"Receiving both provincial and federal approval of ourEnvironmental Assessment is a critical milestone on our path tomaking a final investment decision," LNG Canada chief executiveAndy Calitz said in a statement.
Calitz added the company will continue to work to mitigatethe environmental effects and enhance the benefits of the LNGCanada project.
Shell and its partners are expected to make their final goor no-go decision on the project in 2016, with construction ofthe first phase set to take roughly five years.
The development, located in the northern British Columbiatown of Kitimat, is anticipated to cost between C$25 billion($20.4 billion) and C$40 billion ($32.7 billion).
It is one of 19 such terminals proposed for the PacificCoast province as companies from around the world look to exportcheap Canadian gas to energy-hungry markets in Asia.
A consortium led by Malaysian state-owned energy companyPetronas gave a conditional go-ahead last week for itsPacific NorthWest LNG project, which is still in the federalenvironmental review process.
Shell holds a 50 percent stake in LNG Canada, PetroChina CoLtd has a 20 percent share, while Korea Gas Corp and Mitsubishi Corp each hold 15 percent.
($1=$1.22 Canadian) (Reporting by Julie Gordon; Editing by Chris Reese; and AndreGrenon)
