Fox Lake Cree Nation and NeeStaNan have received federal approval from the Canadian Energy Regulator to export liquefied natural gas (LNG), advancing plans to develop Canada’s first Arctic LNG terminal near Port Nelson on the western shore of Hudson Bay.The project, led entirely by indigenous interests through NeeStaNan, includes a feasibility study for a year-round, multi-functional port capable of handling bulk commodities, containers, and energy exports including LNG, LPG and hydrogen. A proposed 150-kilometre rail line would connect the port to the Hudson Bay Railway near Gillam, Manitoba..Smith says federal ‘greenwashing’ laws kill LNG investment, threatens energy sector future.Premier Danielle Smith when asked about the project and whether this was what she had in mind when negotiating with Prime Minister Mark Carney on policies like Bill C-5 responded, “I'm hoping for a new relationship with Ottawa.”“There's a range of things that we're concerned about,” Smith told the Western Standard. “I think that the issue around LNG exports is one where it's very clear that not only do we get local benefit, not only with indigenous partners, their indigenous benefit, but it also reduces emissions globally if we can replace higher emissions fuels.”“So it makes no sense then to have things like the net-zero power grid regulations, because we can't, on the one hand, be saying, ‘let's celebrate the export of LNG to reduce emissions globally,’ and then punishing those, especially in Alberta and Saskatchewan, who want to use natural gas for our home heating as well as for our electricity.”“So there's still nine bad policies that we think are interfering with the investment climate, and we're going to continue working with the federal government to see those substantially revised or repealed.”.A CLEAR BUSINESS CASE: Canada’s first LNG megaproject offers tariff-free path to global markets.“This is a nation-building project that will open up new trade routes through the Arctic,” said Okimakan (Chief) Beardy of Fox Lake Cree Nation. “Canada offers a stable, trustworthy political environment and is a natural choice for clean, responsibly produced, competitively priced energy supplies. Our Arctic trade routes to Europe are developing quickly and we expect to see much more Arctic trade in the years to come.”The project aligns with both federal and provincial goals to increase indigenous participation in infrastructure development, reduce internal trade barriers, and expand access to global markets for Canadian resources..‘Where is Canada?’: Schulz breaks down federal LNG policy in global context.NeeStaNan, majority owned by Fox Lake Cree Nation, signed a memorandum of understanding on February 8, with Northern Prince LNG to explore building an LNG export terminal at Port Nelson. Northern Prince LNG is also leading development of an “LNG by rail” system in British Columbia.“Port Nelson is an excellent location for Canada’s first Arctic terminal for LNG exports,” said Chris Hilliard, president of Northern Prince LNG. “With a new 150 km rail link to existing infrastructure, we can reduce regulatory risk and speed up the path to commercial operations.”In addition to LNG by rail, the feasibility study will explore long-distance pipeline options to bring natural gas to tidewater.
