Canada's 14-million-tonne-per-year LNG plant nears startup

LNG Canada, a joint venture between Shell, Petronas, PetroChina, Mitsubishi, and Kogas, is entering the final commissioning phase at its Kitimat facility. On April 1, when the tanker Maran Gas Roxana arrives, the plant will begin cooling its industrial equipment — a critical 3‑to‑4‑week process that ensures safe commissioning.

According to Reuters, this step is the last before production begins. LNG Canada expects to ship its first cargo by mid‑2025.

Once operational, the 14 million-tonne-per-year plant will provide Canadian natural gas producers with a significant new export market, offering an alternative to relying solely on the United States via pipeline.

For context, in 2024, Canada exported about 8.6 billion cubic feet per day of gas to America — up from 8.0 billion in 2023 and above the 2018–2022 average of 7.5 billion cubic feet per day, according to the US Energy Information Administration.