Canada has placed a proposed LNG export terminal in British Columbia on its priority fast-track list, a move aimed at speeding up approvals and increasing the chances that the project will move forward.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the decision in Prince Rupert, near the planned site of the facility. Once completed, the terminal would be capable of exporting about 12 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas each year, making it one of the country’s largest LNG operations.
The fast-track designation is part of the government’s wider push to accelerate major natural resource projects and attract new investment, especially as the country looks to strengthen its economy amid trade pressure from U.S. tariffs. A new federal projects office is now responsible for coordinating approvals, financing support, and Indigenous consultation for developments deemed to be of national interest.
The terminal is being advanced by Western LNG, a consortium of Canadian natural gas producers known as Rockies LNG, and the Nisga’a Nation, which owns the land. Although the group has not yet committed to full construction, Western LNG’s CEO Davis Thames said the government’s decision significantly improves the project’s outlook. A final investment decision is expected in early 2026.
Long-term buyers are already showing interest. Shell and TotalEnergies have each signed 20-year agreements to purchase LNG from the future terminal, and developers are working to secure additional contracts before construction begins.
Supporting infrastructure is also in progress, including the 900-kilometre Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline, which will supply natural gas to the proposed terminal and is also listed as a federal priority project.
Analysts note that while the fast-track status boosts confidence, the developers must still finalize financing and commercial agreements before moving ahead.
The Canadian government says this latest round of priority approvals could help unlock more than C$56 billion in private investment. Other newly fast-tracked projects include BC Hydro’s North Coast Transmission Line and the Crawford Nickel Project in Ontario.
