LNG Canada, FortisBC join First Nations LNG Alliance

LNG Canada and FortisBC in March 2023 will join the First Nations LNG Alliance (FNLNGA). The move follows agreement between FNLNGA and the Canadian LNG Alliance to “lead sustainable LNG development and future exports on behalf of First Nations and industry across Canada.”

Formed in 2015, the British Columbia-based FNLNGA was created to ensure First Nations benefit from LNG development on the province’s west coast, becoming active participants, commercial partners, and proponents.

“We have an incredible opportunity to develop a thriving LNG export business in B.C. and Canada, which for the first time in history is undertaken with full Indigenous participation,” said FNLNGA chief executive officer Karen Ogen.

“Participating in economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities is a top priority for LNG Canada. We have always recognized First Nations as essential partners in LNG development,” said Teresa Waddington, LNG Canada’s vice president of corporate relations said. “We’re excited to work with the Alliance in leading industry advocacy and policy development.”

Ogen added that “the Asian market offers tremendous economic opportunities for First Nations and the entire Canadian economy, but we need to move quickly before these opportunities are lost to the US, Australia, and the Middle East.”

LNG Canada (Shell PLC, 40%; Petroliam Nasional Berhad-Petronas, 25%; PetroChina Co. Ltd., 15%; Mitsubishi Corp., 15%; and Korea Gas Corp., 5%) is building a 14-million tonne/year (tpy) LNG plant in Kitimat, BC (OGJ Online, Feb. 1, 2023), in Haisla Nation territory. LNG Canada is expected to enter service in 2025 or early 2026.

FortisBC operates the 1.5-bcf Mount Hayes LNG storage site near Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, BC, and the Tilbury LNG storage and plant in Delta, BC. FortisBC is expanding Tilbury to enable LNG bunkering and small-scale marine exports. The plant currently produces 0.9 million tpy. Post-expansion capacity would increase to 3.5 million tpy and add a 142,000 cu m storage tank. Work could be complete by 2028.