Business · Energy & Commodities · 24 mins ago
Study says Canada’s LNG expansion could bring nearly $1 trillion in investment
A new S&P Global study says Canada could attract nearly $1 trillion in LNG-related investment if it meets its export ambitions by 2050.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government aims to raise exports to as much as 100 million tonnes a year by 2040.
Canada has one LNG export facility operating, with capacity of 14 million tonnes a year, while six others are under construction or in development.
The study says reaching the target could support nearly a quarter-million jobs annually across gas production, pipelines and other parts of the industry.
Canada has large, relatively low-cost gas reserves and coastal routes to overseas markets, but lengthy permitting, high construction costs and infrastructure limits have slowed projects.
The study also points to competition from countries such as the United States, and says Canada must address delays and costs to seize the opportunity.
The federal government has introduced legislation intended to speed regulatory reviews, while industry will need to advance projects.
A new S&P Global study says meeting Canada’s LNG export targets could generate nearly $1 trillion in investment and contribute $888 billion to GDP through 2050.
The federal government aims to raise LNG exports to more than 100 million tonnes a year.
The study says Canada has abundant, low-cost natural gas and geographic advantages that could help it become a leading exporter.
It also identifies lengthy permitting, cost uncertainty, policy instability and infrastructure constraints as obstacles.
The report says the opportunity depends on addressing these hurdles and attracting more private-sector projects.
- Who
- Canada’s LNG industry and the federal government.
- What
- An S&P Global study says scaling up LNG exports could bring major investment and economic growth, but faces significant hurdles.
- When
- The report was released Thursday, November 12, 2026; its projections extend through 2050.
- Where
- Canada, including Western Canada and the country’s Pacific coast.
- Why
- To assess the economic potential of meeting Canada’s LNG export ambitions and the challenges to achieving them.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Canada’s only LNG facility began operating, according to CBC.
S&P Global released its study of Canada’s LNG opportunities and challenges.
The federal government aims for Canada’s LNG exports to reach more than 100 million tonnes a year.
The study projects nearly $1 trillion in investment and $888 billion in GDP contributions if Canada meets its export targets.
- Potential investment
- Nearly $1 trillion across the LNG value chain
- Potential GDP contribution
- $888 billion through 2050
- Export ambition
- More than 100 million tonnes of LNG a year by 2040
- Current operating capacity
- 14 million tonnes a year at one facility
- Permitting comparison
- Canada’s process takes 27 months longer than Texas, according to the S&P report
- Pipeline cost comparison
- Canadian pipelines cost 160 per cent more to build, according to the S&P report
3 sources
What people are saying
The opportunity is real if Canada wants to chase it.
If Canada can address its permitting issues and its cost issues, Canada can play a very big role in global LNG, which would be obviously beneficial for the Canadian economy and would help to globalize its economy and make its economy less dependent upon on its neighbour to the south
Governments will set the table, but industry will have to step into the void as well.