NeeStaNan and Fox Lake Cree Nation have secured federal authorization from the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER) to export liquefied natural gas (LNG).
NeeStaNan and Fox Lake Cree Nation are currently embarking on a Feasibility Study for the development of a multifunctional port, a new Port Nelson on the western shore of Hudson Bay. The plans are for a large, multi-functional port with year-round operations with capacity and infrastructure to handle bulk commodities (ores, potash, grains etc.), containers and energy exports (LNG, LPG and Hydrogen). The port would be served via a new 150 km long heavy rail spur that would connect the port with Hudson Bay Rail near Gillam MB.
NeeStaNan is a 100% First Nation initiative, led by Fox Lake Cree Nation and is aligned with federal and provincial goals to develop “nation building projects” that are inclusive of Indigenous and First Nation communities, reduce intra-provincial trade barriers and create new Arctic trade routes to provide access to new markets for Canada’s natural resources. Okimakan (Chief) Beardy of Fox Lake Cree Nation notes “Canada offers a stable, trustworthy political environment and is a natural choice for clean, responsibly produced, competitively priced energy supplies. Our arctic trade routes to Europe are developing quickly and we expect to see much more arctic trade in the years to come”.
On 8 February 2025 NeeStaNan, a majority owned subsidiary of Fox Lake Cree Nation, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Northern Prince LNG to assess the development of an LNG export terminal near Port Nelson. Northern Prince LNG is the lead developer of an “LNG by rail” concept currently being advanced on the west coast of British Columbia. “Port Nelson is an excellent location for Canada’s first arctic terminal for LNG exports. The location is certainly remote, however, with the construction of a new 150 km rail connection to Hudson Bay Rail, we can develop reliable rail service to tide water at Port Nelson, and by using existing rail infrastructure, we can reduce regulatory risk and shorten the time it takes to get to commercial operations.” says Chris Hilliard, president of Northern Prince LNG.
In addition to LNG by rail, NeeStaNan’s Feasibility Study will also investigate several other options to export LNG, including the construction of long-distance pipelines to transport natural gas to tidewater.
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Northern Prince LNG president Chris Hilliard and Okimakan Morris Beardy, Chief, Fox Lake Cree Nation sign a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the development of an LNG export terminal north of the old Port Nelson site on the shore of Hudson Bay.
Northern Prince LNG is a lead developer of LNG by rail concepts and is currently advancing projects on the west coast of British Columbia.
Fox Lake Cree Nation traditional territories encompass lands along the northern reaches of the Nelson River. |
Once operational, NeeStaNan will be an example of how First Nations can lead major projects and will demonstrate how Indigenous communities can work together with provincial and federal governments and industry in the name of Reconciliation.