LNG Canada and Five B.C. First Nations Finalize $1 B Storage‑Tank Partnership

LNG Canada has reached an agreement with five northwestern British Columbia First Nations—the Gitga’at, Gitxaała, Haisla, Kitselas and Kitsumkalum—to invest up to US$1 billion in a storage‑tank project that would support the company's Phase 2 expansion. The First Nations will, through the MNT Investments Ltd. partnership, purchase a 225,000‑square‑metre nickel‑alloy tank—Canada's largest—measuring 56 by 92 metres, and then lease it back to LNG Canada for the life of the facility.

The deal is conditional on a final investment decision for Phase 2, expected by the end of 2026, which would raise LNG Canada’s capacity by about 30 million tonnes per year (potentially doubling output to 28 million tonnes). Clar​ence Innes of the Gitxaała Nation said the arrangement “creates a historic pathway for Indigenous partnerships in Canada’s energy future,” while LNG Canada CEO Chris Cooper highlighted the opportunity for Indigenous ownership and long‑term value creation.

If approved, the partnership would give the First Nations direct ownership of a major component of the LNG plant, marking a significant step in Indigenous‑industry collaboration.