CBC Lite Sections News • Business Second German company looks to secure LNG supply from B.C. Ksi Lisims project Lauren Krugel | The Canadian Press | Posted: June 8, 2026 7:46 PM | Last Updated: 18 hours ago The project has regulatory approval, but more deals needed in order to get the full greenlight Image | Ksi Lisims Caption: A rendering of the Ksi Lisims LNG project in northern B.C. Duesseldorf-based Uniper has signed a letter of interest that could see the company buy two million tonnes of gas a year. (Submitted by Ksi Lisims LNG) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab A second German utility has expressed interest in purchasing liquefied natural gas from the Ksi Lisims project planned for the northern British Columbia coast, as the plant's partners approach a final go-ahead decision. Duesseldorf-based Uniper and Ksi Lisims LNG said Monday that they have signed a letter of interest that could see the company buy two million tonnes of gas a year, with deliveries beginning as early as 2032. The letter of interest outlines key commercial terms for a firmer supply and purchase agreement with Uniper, whose core markets are Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands. Uniper has 18.5 gigawatts of power generating capacity and is a major LNG importer in northwestern Europe. The German government took it over amid the 2022 energy crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but is now in the process of privatizing it. Diversifying Uniper's portfolio of LNG supply is a key priority, CEO Michael Lewis said in a news release. "Canada offers an attractive environment with significant gas resources, strong political stability and reliable regulatory frameworks," he said. Image | LNG-Approval-BC 20250916 Caption: B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during a Ksi Lisims LNG announcement of an environmental assessment certificate in Vancouver on Sept. 16, 2025 (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press) (BUTTON) Load image Open image in new tab "We see potential in projects like Ksi Lisims LNG to further enhance the resilience and flexibility of our supply portfolio." Houston-based Western LNG is the lead developer and future operator of Ksi Lisims alongside Rockies LNG, a consortium of Canadian natural gas producers, and the Nisga'a Nation, on whose lands the project would be located. The floating plant would export up to 12 million tonnes of LNG per year from the site on Pearse Island by the Alaska border. The $10-billion project has regulatory approval but the partners have yet to make a final investment decision. Locking down long-term supply deals is a key step toward that milestone. "This project, and Europe's interest in it, demonstrates how energy security, climate responsibility, and community-focused economic development can be achieved together," said Davis Thames, CEO of Western LNG. * What is the Ksi Lisims LNG project being fast tracked by feds in B.C.? LNG is natural gas that has been chilled into a liquid state, enabling it to be shipped by sea on specialized tankers. Late last month, German government-owned company Securing Energy for Europe, or SEFE, signed a long-term agreement to buy one million tonnes of LNG per year from Ksi Lisims over an up to 20-year span. WATCH | Canada secures buyer for LNG from British Columbia: Media Video | Caption: The Federal Energy Minister announced Canada's first major LNG supply agreement. The deal between Ksi Lisims LNG in B.C. and German energy company SEFE will see Canada export one million metric tonnes of LNG annually to Europe. While Nisga'a Lisims Government is in support of the project, environmental groups and some First Nations continue to oppose the project, calling it legally contested and environmentally risky. Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Germany would not seem to be a logical buyer for western Canadian gas based solely on geography, but European countries have looked to source gas from places other than Russia, which had been their dominant supplier, since that country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The U.S.-Israel war with Iran has also halted LNG shipments out of the Middle East since late February, striking off another region from Europe's list of suppliers. * Landmark LNG deal between Canada and Germany to be announced: sources Cargo from Ksi Lisims could travel to Germany via the Panama Canal, provided vessels are small enough, or take the long way around South America or Africa, Tim Hodgson, the federal natural resources minister, said late last month when the deal with SEFE was announced. But more likely are swap deals, where a European buyer could essentially trade cargoes with another company with a ship closer to the destination. The Uniper-Ksi Lisims announcement is better understood as a "political move" in both Canada and Germany than a genuine energy security advancement, said Alex Walker, energy analytics program manager at Environmental Defence. WATCH | Local communities worried about incoming Ksi Lisims infrastructure: Media Video | Caption: Kathy Clay, president of the Kispiox Valley Community Centre Association and Chief Councilor Kolin Sutherland-Wilson of the Kispiox Band explain their concerns about the proposed pipeline. Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. "For Ottawa, this signals further momentum of the nation building agenda. For Germany, it helps prove the value of the state-owned Uniper ahead of its sale, reassuring prospective buyers such as the Canada Pension Plan that the company holds long-term supply commitments," Walker said. * Ksi Lisims project would increase B.C.’s greenhouse gas emissions * First Nations in B.C. make legal challenges to huge Ksi Lisims LNG project Reuters reported last week that the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is among the possible bidders for Uniper. Walker also noted Ksi Lisims' prospects are clouded by First Nations opposition and pending legal challenges to the project and the pipeline that would feed it. "Despite what the headlines say, this project is far from a Canadian nation building project waiting to happen." More Stories Like This The related links below are generated automatically based on the story you’ve just read. Loading... CBC Lite is a low-bandwidth website. To see what's new, check out our release notes. For high quality images, media, comments, and other additional features visit the full version of this story. We and select advertising partners use trackers to collect some of your data in order to enhance your experience and to deliver personalized content and advertising. If you are not comfortable with the use of this information, please review your device and browser privacy settings before continuing your visit. 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