31 Oct 2025 2 min read

Breaking—Abandoned Kitimat LNG Project Purchased by Haisla Affiliated Company

Kitimat LNG, the first major LNG project seriously proposed in BC, was abandoned by one of its developers, Chevron, in 2019, and by the other, Woodside Petroleum, in 2021. Both companies took massive write-offs on the project — US$2.2 billion for Chevron. This project was intended to be supplied by the first major gas pipeline proposed for the northwest coast, Pacific Trail Pipelines (PTP).

Kitimat LNG was granted an environmental certificate in 2006. PTP was granted its certificate in 2008. Both projects were designated "substantially started" by the BC EAO before being substantively abandoned by their proponents, which means that despite the abandonment, the projects remain indefinitely permitted by the BC government and could theoretically re-start construction at any time.

Today, the EAO published a notice that Bish LNG GP Ltd. is purchasing Kitimat LNG from the Chevron/Woodside-owned KM LNG Operating General Partnership. According to a letter sent by Bish to the EAO, the "Haisla Nation indirectly holds interests in both Bish LNG GP Ltd. and Bish LNG Limited Partnerships" through its entities Yaqwa Development Limited Partnership and Yaqwa Development Corporation.

Bish LNG GP Ltd. (BC1530301) was incorporated on March 6th, 2025.

Neither the intention behind the transfer of ownership nor any of the details of the transaction were made clear in the documentation posted by the EAO.

A crude artist's rendering of the planned project from ~2012. More info in this 2012 article.

PTP, which was abandoned when Kitimat LNG was abandoned, was purchased in 2021 by Enbridge Inc. Under Enbridge's ownership, the project has not only kept up with required inspections and other commitments, but it has also sought out new exemptions from DFO and regulatory clarifications from Transport Canada, particularly in 2023 and 2024. Their updates to the EAO include language like "PTP LP will publish public notifications in local newspapers to inform residents, local groups and clubs of construction activities as a revised Project construction schedule becomes clearer," making it clear that while Enbridge may not be about to start construction again, they purchased the project with the hope that they will be able to build it.

PTP would run along a very similar route to Coastal GasLink. Unist'ot'en Camp was originally established in opposition to this project, the first major gas pipeline proposed through Wet'suwet'en territory.