Second German Utility Eyes Canadian LNG Supply as Ksi Lisims Project Nears Key Decision
A second major German energy company has moved to secure liquefied natural gas from a proposed northern British Columbia export terminal, as the project’s partners inch closer to a final investment decision on the $10-billion Ksi Lisims LNG facility.
Düsseldorf-based Uniper and Ksi Lisims LNG announced Monday they have signed a letter of interest that could see Uniper purchase two million tonnes of LNG per year, with deliveries beginning as early as 2032.
A Strategic Move Away from Russian Gas
The deal reflects a broader European push to diversify energy supply following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which severed what had been the continent’s dominant source of natural gas. Germany, in particular, has scrambled to secure alternative suppliers.
Uniper operates 18.5 gigawatts of power generating capacity and is one of northwestern Europe’s largest LNG importers, with core markets in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands. The German government took over the company during the 2022 energy crisis but is now in the process of privatizing it.
Uniper CEO Michael Lewis framed the letter of interest as part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen supply resilience. “Canada offers an attractive environment with significant gas resources, strong political stability and reliable regulatory frameworks,” he said in a news release.
Project Details and Indigenous Partnership
The Ksi Lisims project would be built on Pearse Island, near the Alaska border, on the territory of the Nisga’a Nation, which holds a partnership stake in the venture. The floating liquefaction plant is designed to export up to 12 million tonnes of LNG per year.
Houston-based Western LNG leads the project alongside Rockies LNG, a consortium of Canadian natural gas producers, and the Nisga’a Nation. The project has received regulatory approval, but partners have not yet issued a final investment decision — a milestone that depends heavily on securing long-term supply agreements.
Western LNG CEO Davis Thames said the European interest demonstrates that “energy security, climate responsibility, and community-focused economic development can be achieved together.”
Growing European Appetite for B.C. LNG
The Uniper announcement follows a similar deal signed late last month, when Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) — a German government-owned company — agreed to purchase one million tonnes of LNG per year from Ksi Lisims under a preliminary agreement spanning up to 20 years.
British Columbia Energy Minister Adrian Dix called Monday’s announcement a “significant step forward” that “shows the continuing potential for the industry here.”
LNG is natural gas chilled into liquid form so it can be transported by sea aboard specialized tankers — a technology that has made geographically distant suppliers like Canada viable alternatives for European buyers cut off from Russian pipeline gas.
