One of the most significant developments in Canada’s energy sector is quietly unfolding on the North Coast of British Columbia. After years of planning, political negotiation, and construction, the LNG Canada export terminal in Kitimat is nearly operational — and it could mark a turning point for Canada’s natural gas industry.

First LNG Carrier Arrives in Kitimat

Earlier this month, the Maran Gas Roxana, a 300-metre LNG carrier flagged in Greece, departed from a terminal in Queensland, Australia. Its destination? Kitimat, B.C. — not to deliver a commercial shipment, but to help cool the massive LNG storage tanks at LNG Canada’s terminal to approximately -169°C, the temperature at which natural gas becomes a liquid.

This “chill-down” phase is one of the final steps before the terminal becomes fully operational. It’s expected to take three to four weeks, bringing the facility even closer to commissioning.

Export Operations Expected by Summer 2025

Once operational, LNG Canada will begin shipping LNG cargoes every two days, each shipment valued at $150 million to $220 million. The terminal is already 95% complete, and the startup timeline points to a mid-2025 launch for exports.

Notably, this terminal marks Canada’s first LNG export terminal on the West Coast, giving Western Canadian producers — particularly in B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan — direct access to global markets, including Asia.

A Long Road to Reality

LNG Canada is one of the largest private-sector investments in Canadian history. The project dates back to 2011, when former B.C. Premier Christy Clark began promoting LNG as a pillar of provincial growth. But it wasn’t until Premier John Horgan’s NDP government introduced tax and regulatory incentives in 2018 that Shell and its global partners approved the final investment.

Despite opposition from environmental activists and political friction with the Greens, the NDP government moved the project forward, securing support from Indigenous communities along the pipeline route and passing enabling legislation with support from the B.C. Liberals.

Massive Economic and Market Impacts

The opening of LNG Canada is expected to:

Generate $3.3 billion in provincial natural gas royalties over the next three years (up from just $600 million last year).
Help Canada diversify its natural gas markets beyond the U.S.
Support long-term development of Alberta and Saskatchewan’s gas resources.
Create new opportunities for midstream and logistics services, as well as marine infrastructure providers.

Adding to the project’s innovation, LNG tankers will be guided through Douglas Channel by battery-electric tugboats from HaiSea Marine, a joint venture between SeaSpan and the Haisla First Nation — an example of Indigenous-led partnership in major industrial projects.

Room to Grow

During a recent tour of the terminal, two expansion-ready sites for future LNG trains were pointed out. If approved, these additions could double LNG Canada’s production capacity. A final investment decision on this expansion is expected in 2026.

Conclusion

After 14 years of development, LNG Canada is finally about to transform Canada’s role in the global LNG market. With the terminal nearing startup and the first LNG shipment expected this summer, the stage is set for new opportunities across the Western Canadian energy landscape.

Whether you’re in oilfield services, midstream operations, logistics, or project support, LNG Canada’s startup marks the beginning of a new chapter — and the ripple effects will be felt across the industry.