TransCanada gets regulatory approval for $5bn Prince Rupert Gas pipeline project

TransCanada has secured final permits from the BC Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC) to construct and operate the $5bn Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline project (PRGT) in northern British Columbia (BC), Canada.

PRGT president Tony Palmer said: "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 two years ago.

"Along with the BC Environmental Assessment Certificate received last November, the BCOGC permitting process was the last major regulatory step for PRGT."

The project includes construction of 780km of land pipeline and 110km of marine pipeline.

It will connect the natural gas production in the Montney fields of northeastern BC.

According to TransCanada, the BCOGC permits cover the complete 900km route from north of Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia to Lelu Island, off the coast of Port Edward near Prince Rupert.

Under the permits, three compressor stations and a metre station would be constructed.

Further, PNW LNG needs to receive a positive decision from the federal government under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 to allow PRGT to proceed with construction.

Upon receiving the approval, PRGT will begin site preparation for camp locations and right-of-way clearing, with plans to commence pipeline construction activities soon.

Progress Energy Canada selected TransCanada in January 2013 to design, build, own and operate the proposed Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project.

The pipeline will transport natural gas primarily from the North Montney gas-producing region near Fort St. John to the Pacific Northwest LNG export facility in Port Edward near Prince Rupert, BC.

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Image: The PRGT project is about 780km of land pipeline and 110km of marine pipeline. Photo: courtesy of puttsk/FreeDigitalPhotos.net