Western LNG, Nisga’a Nation buying Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project

HUDSON’S HOPE, B.C. — A B.C. First Nation is partnering with a Houston-based firm to buy a ready-to-construct pipeline project that would supply natural gas to a proposed floating LNG export terminal north of Prince Rupert.

The Nisga’a Nation and its partner, Texas-based Western LNG, announced Thursday they will be acquiring the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project from Calgary-based TC Energy Corp.

The project is a permitted and ready-to-build 900-kilometre natural gas pipeline that would run from Hudson’s Hope to Lelu Island, near Prince Rupert.

The pipeline was meant to supply the Pacific NorthWest liquefied natural gas facility, a $36-billion project that was spearheaded by Malaysian energy giant Petronas but scrapped in 2017 due to falling LNG prices.

The Pacific Northwest LNG project had already been approved by the federal government.

The Nisga’a Nation and Western LNG say their pipeline project purchase will help support their own Ksi Lisims LNG project, which they are considering building off the coast of B.C.