The Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) in British Columbia, Canada, is spearheading the Tu Deh-Kah geothermal project, which has received US$1.2mn in funding from the Government of Canada through Natural Resources Canada.
This project aims to develop a power plant with an initial output of 7 MWe, with the potential to scale up to 15 MWe. Situated about 14 kms southwest of Fort Nelson, it repurposes the former Clarke Lake Gas Field. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate electricity for approximately 10,000 homes while driving long-term economic benefits for FNFN and surrounding areas.
As a fully Indigenous-owned initiative, Tu Deh-Kah is British Columbia’s first geothermal power facility and among Canada’s pioneering projects in this sector. A late 2024 update confirmed plans for further production well drilling, with the plant targeting an operational launch by 2027.
Jim Hodgson, CEO of Deh Tai Limited, FNFN’s economic development arm, stated, “This milestone reflects our Nation’s commitment to energy sovereignty, sustainable development, and Indigenous leadership in clean energy. Thank you to Natural Resources Canada for supporting our journey!”
Tu Deh-Kah is one of seven Indigenous-led projects benefiting from funding through Natural Resources Canada’s Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP) Program. The initiative promotes Indigenous participation in key natural resource projects essential to the clean energy transition, with a total of US$6.2mn allocated across these ventures.
By fostering collaboration in renewable energy, the Tu Deh-Kah project is set to address local energy demands while creating economic opportunities. Continued drilling and development efforts are underway to ensure the facility remains on track for its 2027 launch, further strengthening Indigenous leadership in sustainable resource management.