Market Snapshot: Growing Indigenous ownership in Canadian pipelines and LNG facilities

Release date: 2026-02-11

Indigenous Communities are increasingly becoming owners and leaders in large energy infrastructure projects. This ownership includes oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (e.g. propane) pipelines that are currently in service. It also includes ownership in liquified natural gas (LNG) export projects that are either under construction, or proposed, and ownership in an operating LNG domestic peaking and storage facility.

While many Indigenous-led energy projects in Canada focus on renewable energy, Indigenous Communities, recognized as the third largest collective owners of clean energy assets nationally after government, have also increased their ownership of fossil-fuel infrastructure in recent years.^Footnote 1 This growing ownership can create important economic opportunities and gives Communities a greater voice and access to infrastructure and project-related information within their territories.

Publicly available data shows that since 2021 Indigenous Communities have acquired ownership interests in over 5,000  kilometres (km) of operating pipelines across Canada. This number is expected to grow should the Government of Canada advance on its announced intention to explore opportunities with Indigenous Communities for greater economic participation in the Trans Mountain Expansion project.^Footnote 2 Indigenous Communities also own stakes in one operating LNG peaking and storage facility, one LNG export facility currently under construction (Cedar LNG), and two proposed LNG export facilities.

The way Indigenous Communities invest in energy infrastructure depends on whether a project is already operating or still being developed. For pipelines in Canada, Indigenous Communities have most often invested in pipelines that are already built and operating. These assets generate steady, predictable revenue, which makes them lower risk and easier to finance. Because of this, these assets are well suited to loans that help Indigenous groups buy ownership stakes, especially when those loans are supported by government loan guarantees.

Indigenous ownership in LNG facilities, however, often looks different from investments in existing pipelines. Rather than buying into assets that are already operating, Indigenous Communities are frequently involved earlier, during project development. This is the case for projects such as Cedar LNG, Ksi Lisims LNG, and NeeStaNan LNG, where Indigenous Nations are partners from the outset of the life of the project.

Major projects with Indigenous equity ownership

The map below illustrates current pipelines and LNG facilities with Indigenous equity ownership.

Figure 1: Map of pipeline systems and LNG facilities with Indigenous ownership

Table 1: Pipelines with Indigenous ownership

Table 2: Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Facilities with Indigenous Ownership

Government financing mechanisms increasing Indigenous ownership

Indigenous ownership is commonly structured through a consortium or a limited partnership. A consortium brings together multiple First Nations, Metis, or Indigenous governments to jointly own a project. Whereas a limited partnership is used to clearly define how ownership, financial returns, and responsibilities are shared among participating Communities or Nations. These structures allow multiple Indigenous Communities or Nations to invest together, share risks and benefits, while still respecting each Nation’s independence and legal authority.

A growing number of federal and provincial programs support Indigenous ownership in operating energy infrastructure. One key tool is a loan guarantee, which means the government agrees to repay a loan if the owner is unable to do so. These programs reduce financial risk for lenders and help Indigenous Communities access larger amounts of capital on better terms, such as lower interest rates. As noted by the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, addressing barriers to capital access helps create the conditions for strong, collaborative partnerships with Indigenous nations.^Footnote 21

At the federal level, Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program (ILGP), administered through the Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation (CILGC), provides loan guarantees that improve access to capital. Several provinces such as Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia (B.C.), and Manitoba, have introduced similar programs. Some of these programs, such as the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC), also provide capacity-building grants or supports to help Indigenous Nations access third-party legal, financial, and technical advice, supporting informed decision making.^Footnote 22

Table 3: Canadian federal and provincial Indigenous Loan Guarantee Programs

A recent example of this model is when 38 First Nations, through the Stonlasec8 Alliance Limited Partnership, invested in the Westcoast natural gas pipeline system. Together, these Indigenous Communities purchased a 12.5% ownership stake, supported by a $400 million loan guarantee from the federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program.

For these developing projects, government funding can support a wide range of activities, including feasibility studies, project planning, project finance, and construction. For example, Cedar LNG received $400 million in committed capital from the federal Strategic Innovation Fund and the First Nations Finance Authority (in the form of grants or contributions). The project is a partnership between the Haisla Nation and Pembina Pipeline Corporation, showing how Indigenous proponents work alongside industry partners to co-develop and advance large-scale energy infrastructure projects.

Overall, the growing role of Indigenous ownership in pipelines and LNG projects in Canada marks a significant shift in how major energy projects in the country are developed, financed, and managed.

Date modified:

2026-02-10