KITIMAT, B.C. – After years of construction that reshaped the regional economy, the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat is poised to produce its first-ever drop of liquefied natural gas as early as this weekend, according to international news reports and shipping data.
This marks a historic moment for Canada, as the Kitimat facility will be the nation’s first to export LNG. A report from Reuters on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the plant’s startup, indicated that initial production could begin this weekend.
Adding to the anticipation, marine vessel tracking data shows that a 290-metre LNG carrier, the Golar Tundra, is currently en route to Kitimat with an estimated arrival date of this Sunday, June 22. The vessel is widely expected to be the one that will collect the first cargo from the new plant.
The massive facility is entering its final commissioning phase. It is expected to operate at a reduced capacity initially, around 25%, as the systems are stabilized before ramping up to full production.
The start of production, often referred to as “first drop,” is the culmination of the largest private investment in Canadian history. It signals the final step before the first shipments of Canadian LNG are sent to markets in Asia, a journey made significantly shorter by the plant’s strategic location on the B.C. coast.
While LNG Canada has not yet made a formal public announcement, the imminent arrival of the tanker and the reports of initial production signal that a new era for Canada’s energy sector is set to begin in Kitimat within days.
