Former Shell executive to take the reins at LNG Canada

LNG Canada, a joint venture (JV) between Shell, Petronas, PetroChina, KOGAS, and Mitsubishi, which is developing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Kitimat, Canada’s British Columbia, has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Chris Cooper, LNG Canada’s current Senior Vice President for Phase 1 Pipeline and Expansion, is set to succeed Jason Klein as the JV’s President and CEO effective April 1, 2025, which is approximately the time when the project’s first LNG cargo is expected.

With over 35 years of experience in the energy sector, Cooper joined Shell in 1998, holding leadership roles in upstream, downstream, and LNG businesses worldwide since then.

Before assuming his current role, Cooper was the Venture Director for Oman Gas and Development Director for Shell’s Nigeria LNG Train 7 where he led the development of investment-grade business solutions. 

“I’m pleased to continue the journey with all those involved in and around the LNG Canada investment,” noted Cooper. “Together, we are setting the benchmark for economically, environmentally, and socially responsible large-scale LNG production in Canada and creating a positive and lasting legacy with First Nations, the local community and for British Columbia and Canada.”

Cooper was seconded to LNG Canada from Shell in 2021, to lead the reset and completion of Coastal GasLink – the 670-kilometer pipeline that will transport natural gas to the approved LNG Canada facility – in cooperation with TC Energy.

In parallel, he spearheaded the journey to reach a final investment decision (FID) for Cedar LNG in 2024, while directing LNG Canada’s Phase 2 development.

“It’s been an honour to lead LNG Canada for the past three years as we reached major construction milestones, participated in reconciliation and continued to steadily and safely advance towards delivering first cargoes of made-in-BC LNG,” noted Klein, who plans to move to Huston and take on an as-of-yet-undisclosed new role with Shell. 

With an initial capacity to produce 14 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG, the Kitimat facility will comprise, among other things, a natural gas receiving and LNG production unit, a marine terminal for two LNG carriers, a tugboat dock, and LNG loading lines.

After receiving refrigerants that will be used to cool natural gas delivered to LNG Canada via the Coastal GasLink pipeline, the JV announced the first introduction of natural gas to the facility in September. This was seen as a key action toward putting the plant into operation.