Premier Christy Clark says she has been working with B.C. media mogul David Black on his proposal to build a massive oil refinery near Kitimat on the north coast.

The $25 billion project will be subject to Clark's five conditions for allowing heavy oil pipelines in the province — the same conditions she laid down for the Enbridge proposal.

"The refinery in Kitimat could form part of the economic benefits needed to satisfy our fifth condition," Clark said in the legislature on Thursday, adding that the proposal would have to meet all the environmental conditions as well.

Clark did not mention the Enbridge plan on Thursday.

B.C.'s 5 conditions for Northern Gateway support

  1. Environmental review needs to be passed.
  2. World-leading marine oil spill prevention, response.
  3. World-leading practices for land oil spill prevention, response.
  4. First Nations opportunities, treaty rights respected.
  5. Fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits for B.C.

On Wednesday, Black announced that he has teamed up with a consortium of investors put together by Richard Cooke, the senior managing director of Switzerland-based Oppenheimer Investments Group, to finance the project.

The plant, which Black has proposed to build north of Kitimat, would refine oil from the Alberta oilsands shipped either by pipeline or rail.

Black's plan calls for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less environmental risk from oil tanker shipping accidents due to the use of smaller vessels, Clark said.

with files from the Canadian Press