TransCanada gets approval for Prince Rupert gas transmission project

TransCanada Corp. has received final permits from the BC Oil & Gas Commission (BCOGC) giving regulatory approval for the construction and operation of the Prince Rupert gas transmission pipeline project (PRGT).

The BCOGC permits cover the entire 900-km route from just north of Hudson’s Hope, BC, to Lelu Island, off the coast of Port Edward, near Prince Rupert. The permits also approve construction of three compressor stations and a meter station where the gas is to be delivered to the Pacific Northwest (PNW) LNG facility (OGJ Online, Mar. 10, 2014).

The PRGT project, comprising 780 km of land pipeline and 110 km of marine pipeline, will connect the gas production in the Montney fields of northeastern BC with the proposed PNW LNG liquefaction facility on Lelu Island.

PNW LNG must receive a positive decision from the federal government under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 for PRGT to proceed with construction. Once approval is received, and PNW LNG has confirmed its decision to proceed with the project, PRGT will begin site preparation for camp locations and right-of-way clearing, with commencement of pipeline construction activities shortly thereafter.

“Receiving the full complement of 11 pipeline and facility permits is a major milestone for the project, and concludes an exhaustive regulatory process that we embarked on more than 2 years ago,” said PRGT Pres. Tony Palmer.

“Along with the BC Environmental Assessment Certificate received last November, the BCOGC permitting process was the last major regulatory step for PRGT,” Palmer said. “At the same time, we continue to work towards securing more project agreements with First Nations, which provide significant financial benefits while addressing cultural and environmental interests.”

TransCanada is advancing the development of $13 billion in British Columbian gas projects.