Brandon eyed for proposed energy project

A proposed clean-energy project tied to a new partnership between Tokyo Gas and B.C.-based Teralta is drawing attention in Brandon, as most details remain under wraps.

Teralta, which develops hydrogen strategies, technology and infrastructure focused on clean hydrogen and electric natural gas (e-NG), confirmed to the Sun that Brandon is the site of a planned project. However, the company wouldn’t disclose key information, including the investment value, the precise location and construction timelines.

“The Brandon e-NG project is currently in the very early stages of development, which limits the amount of information we’re able to share at this time beyond the details provided in the Tokyo Gas press release,” Teralta said in a written response to the Sun.

The company added that a more detailed announcement is planned for the first quarter of 2026.

According to Tokyo Gas’s press release, the partnership with Teralta is advancing multiple e-NG opportunities across North America, including a Manitoba project. The Brandon-based project is expected to produce approximately 30,000 tonnes of e-NG annually, with all production intended for export to Japan.

The release lists a final investment decision between fiscal 2026 and early fiscal 2027, with commercial operations targeted by fiscal 2030. The project would use by-product green hydrogen derived from hydroelectric power and carbon dioxide captured from existing industrial sources.

The partnership is focused on delivering cost-competitive, low-carbon e-NG for international markets, Teralta CEO Simon Pickup stated in the release.

“At the core of our model is Teralta’s innovative TERAscale process, which enables superior hydrogen output at materially lower cost,” Pickup said, adding that the use of existing infrastructure allows for “a faster, more capital-efficient pathway to supply Japan with reliable, low-carbon e-NG.”

The Canadian project aligns with the company’s core objectives of carbon neutrality and energy security, Tokyo Gas vice-president and chief technology officer Kentaro Kimoto stated in the release.

“Through this initiative, we will make steady progress toward both realizing a carbon-neutral society and ensuring a stable energy supply,” Kimoto said.

City officials say the project has been on their radar for some time.

The city and the Province of Manitoba have been actively engaged with Teralta and its partners for nearly two years, the city’s economic development director Gerald Cathcart told the Sun.

“Projects of this scale are complex and require long lead times,” Cathcart said, calling the initiative “transformative” for Brandon and Manitoba. He said the proposed development positions Brandon as a leader in Canada’s clean-energy transition and underscores the city’s ability to attract cutting-edge investment.

Cathcart said the project is notable as the first of its kind to convert by-product hydrogen into e-NG using waste CO₂, marking a significant step in advancing green technology while reducing emissions. He added that the development is expected to create employment, foster strategic partnerships and deliver lasting economic benefits.

On infrastructure, Cathcart said one of the strengths of the Brandon proposal is the availability of existing systems and supply-chain capacity. “The city will not be required to make additional infrastructure investments,” he said, noting the focus will instead be on supporting local supply chains and workforce recruitment and training as the project advances.

While Teralta has not released job numbers, Cathcart said future opportunities could include skilled trades, plant operations and maintenance, technical roles related to hydrogen and synthetic gas systems, logistics and specialized clean-energy training.

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett also acknowledged the limited public information available so far, describing the project as a “long game.”

He said his understanding is that the partners are working closely with Manitoba Hydro and that the e-NG development is separate from, but connected to, broader power and transmission planning in the region.

“We don’t have anything on the ground here quite yet,” Fawcett said. “I expect to learn more in the coming months, and that the partners have expressed interest in a 2029–30 completion window.

Despite the uncertainties, the mayor said he is enthusiastic about the potential regional benefits.

“I think it’s great for the region and this area definitely needs that power,” he told the Sun on Saturday. “There’s also a solar project planned to start in the region, and 2027 is still, I believe, the target date for the Portage transmission line to reach Brandon. All of this is really addressing our energy needs.”

Fawcett said Premier Wab Kinew has been very clear that these turbines are about ensuring what people call energy sovereignty, especially “considering how much power we currently buy from the United States.”

Pointing to the jobs the project would create, Fawcett said there is “really no downside” for the city.

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

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