The secretary-treasurer of the Nisga’a Nation in northern British Columbia says the proposed Ksi Lisims liquefied natural gas project is approaching a decisive stage, with most major hurdles now reportedly cleared ahead of a final go-ahead decision.
“I think we’ve basically cleared almost all hurdles for this project,” Charles Morven told reporters on the sidelines of the Global Energy Show in Calgary.
The $10-billion project would be developed on Nisga’a land in the northwest corner of British Columbia near the Alaska border. The lead developer is Houston-based Western LNG, alongside Rockies LNG, a consortium of Canadian natural gas producers.
Morven said the project is also tied to broader ambitions around Indigenous economic autonomy.
“That’s what we’re working toward, to build our own financial capital and maybe, somewhere along the line, be able to finance smaller projects on their own without having to wait for other people to do things for us,” he said.
In recent weeks, Ksi Lisims has signed preliminary supply agreements with two German utilities. The project has also announced three new benefit agreements with other First Nations in the region, including agreements that led to two groups withdrawing legal challenges against federal approval.
Andrew Robinson, CEO of the Nisga’a Nation, emphasized the importance of reframing the narrative around Indigenous participation in LNG projects.
“We hope it’s a clear path for Canadians to understand that it’s Indigenous people that aren’t standing in front of you, or aren’t standing opposed to you, aren’t standing in a different way,” he said during a panel discussion. “Sometimes the narrative is always what kills the discussion that is occurring.”
While legal opposition from the Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams has been withdrawn, one Gitxsan leader confirmed that legal action will continue against British Columbia’s approval of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline, which would supply the project.
Hereditary Chief Charlie Wright of the Gitxsan house Luutkudziiwus warned in a written statement that the pipeline would have lasting consequences.
“It will have irreversible consequences on our culture, identity and livelihood as Gitxsan people,” he said. “The province has never properly consulted our Wilp (house) — and we’re prepared to take this issue to the Supreme Court of Canada.”
Meanwhile, further south in Squamish, British Columbia, the Woodfibre LNG project is now around 65% complete, according to CEO Luke Schauerte, with startup expected next year.
Woodfibre is 70% owned by Pacific Energy Corp., a subsidiary of Singapore-based RGE group of companies, with Enbridge Inc. holding the remaining stake. Schauerte said all of Woodfibre’s export capacity has already been contracted by BP.
He also pointed to recent agreements signed by Ksi Lisims with German utilities Securing Energy for Europe and Uniper as a positive market signal.
“The LNG market is technical, it’s sophisticated, it is a complex global trading market. So it provides for things like swaps and offtake agreements that will facilitate that,” he said.
He added that swap deals linking buyers and sellers across distant markets are becoming increasingly common.
“I believe that the work that’s being done by the federal government to market Canada as a reliable provider and a secure provider has been coming to fruition now, so I look forward to more of that happening.”
Woodfibre LNG has also positioned itself as a regulatory milestone, becoming the first industrial project to recognize a non-treaty Indigenous government, the Squamish Nation, as a full environmental regulator.
“I do see Canadian LNG as Indigenous LNG,” Schauerte said.
Currently, the only operating LNG export facility in Canada is LNG Canada in Kitimat, British Columbia, with shipments to Asia having begun nearly a year ago.
The LNG Canada partners — Shell and four Asian state-owned firms — are also considering a potential expansion that could double capacity, with a final investment decision expected by year-end.
Shell’s manager of global gas fundamentals, Ryan Hickman, said Asian buyers are increasingly interested in Canadian LNG due to its sustainability, reliability and cost profile.
“This isn’t something that we necessarily are out pushing,” he said. “A lot of buyers are coming to us.”
