Quebec investors made a start Tuesday on filling a year-old gap left after Berkshire Hathaway Inc. walked away from the plan for French Canada to enter the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market.

Energie Saguenay

Construction contractors Cegerco and L. Fournier et fils Inc. announced a C$2 million ($1.5 million) initial participation commitment by an entrepreneur group in the region east of Montreal, where the proposed Energie Saguenay export terminal would be built.

Cegerco President Jeannot Harvey and L. Fournier proprietor Jérémi Fournier described the commitment as a message to Canadian authorities and international business that the LNG project has community support, should be approved and deserves investment.

The holding company that owns the $6.8 billion Energie Saguenay and its...