Natural gas liquefaction dates back to the 19th century, when British chemist and physicist Michael Faraday experimented with liquefying different types of gases, including natural gas. German engineer Karl van Linde built the first practical compressor refrigerator machine in Munich in 1873. Using this compressor technology, the first LNG plant in North America was built in West Virginia in 1912, while the first commercial liquefaction plant was built in Ohio, in 1941.

Since natural gas was discovered in New Brunswick in 1859, Canada has become an important participant in the global gas industry with Canadian-marketed gas production rising from less than 1 billion cubic feet (BCF) per day in 1947 to more than 16 BCF per day today.

Canaport LNG is the first LNG regasification plant
in Canada and the first facility of its kind to be constructed
on the East Coast of North America in over 30 years.