VICTORIA — The Ksi Lisims LNG project on Canada’s West Coast has reached a key milestone with the signing of benefit agreements between its lead developer and three First Nations in northern British Columbia, marking a significant step forward for one of the country’s major liquefied natural gas developments.
Houston-based Western LNG confirmed agreements with the Metlakatla First Nation, Lax Kw’alaams Band, and Gitxaala Nation. In parallel, both the Metlakatla First Nation and Lax Kw’alaams Band have withdrawn their legal challenge against the federal approval of the $10-billion project, easing a major regulatory and social hurdle for the development.
The agreements outline commitments related to economic development opportunities as well as climate-related initiatives intended to support long-term benefits for the affected communities.
The Ksi Lisims LNG project is also backed by Rockies LNG, a consortium of Canadian natural gas producers, alongside the Nisga’a Nation, on whose territory the facility is planned to be built. The project continues to position itself as a major export-oriented energy infrastructure development for the Pacific coast.
Project partners have recently announced preliminary supply agreements with German utilities, signaling growing international interest as they move toward a final investment decision expected later this year.
“We have always envisioned the Ksi Lisims LNG project as economically important for the entirety of northwest B.C., and we are pleased to see this vision materializing,” said Eva Clayton, president of the Nisga’a Nation.
The agreements come at a time when LNG projects in Canada are increasingly shaped by the need to balance export ambitions, Indigenous partnership frameworks, and regulatory certainty as global energy demand evolves.
