LNG Canada sets CEO succession as commissioning nears

LNG Canada, the Shell-led consortium developing Canada’s first world-scale natural gas liquefaction and export terminal on BC’s northern coast, said December 16 Chris Cooper, currently a senior vice president, would assume the role of CEO on April 1, 2025, succeeding Jason Klein, who was named to the post in April 2022.

Cooper was initially seconded to LNG Canada by Shell in 2021 as Senior Vice President, Phase 1 Pipeline and Expansion, to lead the reset and completion of the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline, in close cooperation with TC Energy, which was building CGL.

Alongside his role with CGL, Cooper also led LNG Canada’s responsibilities in advancing the nearby Cedar LNG project to a final investment decision earlier this year while also directing LNG Canada’s pending Phase 2 development work.

Prior to his roles at LNG Canada, Cooper was the Venture Director for Oman Gas and Development Director for Shell’s Nigeria LNG Train 7, where he successfully led the development of investment grade business solutions. He originally joined Shell in 1998.

“I’m pleased to continue the journey with all those involved in and around the LNG Canada investment,” Cooper said. “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 BC and Canada.”

LNG Canada is expected to produce its first commercial cargoes of LNG by the middle of 2025, although commissioning cargoes may be produced ahead of that date.

Klein will continue to lead LNG Canada until April 1, 2025, at which time he will return to Shell in Houston with his family. His next assignment with Shell will be the subject of a future announcement.

“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,” Klein said.