What are the Economic Benefits of the Ksi Lisims LNG Project in B.C.?

What are the Economic Benefits of the Ksi Lisims LNG Project in B.C.?

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Just how important will Ksi Lisims LNG – and its associated Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline (name change coming soon) – be to the economy of northwestern British Columbia? At a time when Canada’s economy is facing significant challenges, this project represents an irreplaceable investment that will create good jobs and much-needed economic activity for our country.

Proponents outlined the project's expected economic impact in full during a December presentation last year, underscoring its critical importance to B.C. and Canada. They noted crucial facts, such as that 15 of 20 First Nations – or 75% – along the pipeline’s route have since signed agreements that include equity ownership opportunities.

Indigenous support for PRGT follows the model pioneered by Coastal GasLink, where 17 First Nations secured a 10% equity stake in the project, creating a new pathway to long-term prosperity, own-source revenues, and economic self-determination for these communities. As with Coastal GasLink and LNG Canada, PRGT and Ksi Lisims LNG are about much more than just infrastructure. They represent economic reconciliation, well-paying jobs, and long-term benefits that can support rural Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities for decades.

Below, we examine the presentation highlights shared by the proponents, along with the economic benefits during construction and throughout the project’s 30-year lifecycle.

Ksi Lisims LNG & PRGT: Project Facts

15 out of 20 first nations along Ksi Lisims LNG pipeline route have signed equity agreement opportunities with the project

Ksi Lisims LNG
    • $10 billion floating liquefied natural gas facility in Nisga’a territory.
    • Co‑developed by the Nisga’a Nation and two private companies
    • Designed to be powered by BC Hydro hydroelectricity.
    • Planned output of 12 million tonnes of LNG per year (mtpa) for export to Asian markets.
Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT)
    • 750 km, 42-inch natural gas pipeline from Northeastern B.C. to Ksi Lisims LNG.
    • Jointly owned by the Nisga’a Nation and a project proponent
    • An estimated $10 billion capital cost.
    • Construction began in 2024 and continues through 2025.
    • 15 of the 20 corridor First Nations have signed agreements that include equity opportunities.

Ksi Lisims LNG & PRGT: Economic Highlights

Ksi Lisims LNG and its pipeline is estimated to create up to 13,000 jobs for Indigenous Peoples and Canadians.

Together, Ksi Lisims LNG and the PRGT Line currently represent one of the largest private capital investments in Canada, arriving at a time when the country is working to diversify trade, strengthen economic resilience, and protect jobs.

Ksi Lisims LNG (Construction)
  • $10 billion capital investment for the floating LNG facility in B.C.
  • $3.9 billion contribution to Canada’s GDP
  • $3.3–$6.2 billion in labour income in Canada
  • $1 billion per year in GDP contribution to B.C.
  • $1.9 billion per year in contribution to Canada’s economy each year
  • $619 million per year in total labour income.
  • Over 5,000 direct jobs created during the construction of KSI Lisims LNG.
  • Construction activities planned to start following Final Investment Decision (FID), targeting site operations by 2029.
  • Powered by hydroelectricity via a new Nass Valley transmission line.
Ksi Lisims LNG (Project Lifecycle)
  • $16.8 billion total contribution to the Canadian economy over a 30-year project life.
  • Of that amount, $15.5 billion is expected to occur in British Columbia, supporting long-term provincial economic growth.
  • Over 1,000 direct jobs during operations at the LNG facility.
  • Up to 77,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions over 30 years, with 87% of those in B.C.
  • Long-term demand for skilled trades, operations, maintenance, and support services over multiple decades.
Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (Construction)
  • $10 billion estimated capital cost for the pipeline – soon to be renamed.
  • $1.5 billion in purchases of labour, goods, and services within B.C.
  • $500 million in federal tax revenue over four years.
  • 6,000–8,000 direct jobs at peak construction on the PRGT Line.
Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (Project Lifecycle)
  • Over 42,000 person-years of employment (direct and indirect) over the life of the PRGT project.
  • $35 million per year in GDP contribution to B.C. during operations.
  • $1.1 billion in federal tax revenue over the full lifespan of the PRGT Line.
  • $1.3 billion in provincial tax revenue.
  • Around $700 million in local municipal tax revenue.
  • Ongoing demand for operations, maintenance, monitoring, and support roles in northern and coastal B.C. communities.
Early Construction Highlights 2024-2025
  • Approximately $25 million in Indigenous procurement and subcontracting.
  • Over $13 million in expenditures in the local community of Terrace.
  • Indigenous employment rate of 30%, triple the average for large projects in the region.
  • 110,000 hours of employment logged so far.
  • Construction of the first workforce accommodation – Sga Sgin’ist Lodge (Nass Camp).
  • Clearing of 42 km of right‑of‑way, 47 km of access road preparation, and installation of 9 permanent bridges.

Irreplaceable Economic Benefits for Canadians

Ksi Lisims LNG represents nearly 17 billion in economic activity for Canadians

Ksi Lisims LNG and its supply pipeline are set to have an irreplaceable, positive long-term impact on the Canadian and Indigenous economies. Together, they represent roughly $20 billion in capital investment, with nearly 85% of that to be spent in Canada.

Ksi Lisims LNG is expected to provide 77,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions over 30 years and an additional 42,000 person-years of employment from PRGT, with a large majority of these jobs in B.C. The projects are expected to inject $16.8 billion into Canada’s economy, plus $1.9 billion per year to Canada’s GDP at peak PRGT construction and billions more in federal, provincial, and municipal tax revenues over their lifetimes.

With 75% of First Nations along PRGT’s route currently in agreement to take an equity stake, these communities have an immense opportunity to secure recurring revenue streams that have shown to be a powerful engine for economic reconciliation. Such revenues have enabled Indigenous governments in B.C. to invest in their communities to improve housing, health, education, infrastructure, and cultural priorities on their own terms.

Ksi Lisims LNG and its PRGT pipeline will help ensure that the economic benefits of natural gas development are shared for generations to come.

Canada Needs LNG Development

https://www.canadaaction.ca/foreign-countries-ask-canada-for-lng-2022

Projects like these show why Canada needs LNG development now more than ever. They create thousands of skilled jobs, inject billions into the Canadian and B.C. economies, and help diversify our trade relationships by delivering our natural gas to global markets. Currently, our natural gas is sold into the U.S. market at a discount, costing Canadians billions of dollars in lost revenues every year.

For regions like northern B.C., LNG infrastructure brings new roads, power lines, workforce accommodations, and local spending that support businesses well beyond the construction phase. Many remote communities see opportunities like LNG development as generational, which must be taken advantage of before they're gone.

Crucially, modern LNG projects are also at the forefront of Indigenous economic reconciliation. The Ksi Lisims LNG partnership with the Nisga’a Nation and the equity opportunities for 15 of 20 First Nations along the PRGT route, echo the success of other Indigenous-partnered LNG projects. Take Cedar LNG, for example, the largest Indigenous-owned infrastructure project in Canada, as well as the shared equity stake taken by 17 First Nations on Coastal GasLink. These models provide stable, long-term revenues for First Nations and self-determination to develop their communities how they see fit.

When done in partnership, Canadian-made LNG can be a powerful tool for job creation, community development, and collective prosperity across Canada.

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