Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project reaches new milestone

TransCanada Corp. has announced that it has received a permit from the British Columbia (B.C.) Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC) to build and operate the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline project (PRGT).The permit covers a 900 km stretch from north of Hudson’s Hope in B.C., Canada to Lelu Island, which is off the coast of Port Edward near Prince Rupert itself.

Furthermore, the permit allows for the construction of three compressor stations and an accompanying metre station where the gas will be delivered to the Pacific NorthWest (PNW) LNG facility.

The PRGT project – which consists of approximately 110 km of marine pipeline and 780 km of land pipeline – will connect the proposed PNW LNG liquefaction plant on Lelu Island to the natural gas production in the Montney fields of northeastern B.C.

Tony Palmer, the President PRGT, 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 B.C. Environmental Assessment Certificate received last November, the BCOGC permitting process was the last major regulatory step for PRGT. 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.”

70 conditions are included in the BCOGC pipeline permits, and address issues, including:

• Notification and reporting.
• Environment.
• Conservation of heritage.
• Clearing of land.
• First Nations.
• Wildlife.
• Marine Life.
• Stability of the terrain.
• Engineering.

Nonetheless, the PNW LNG project must receive approval from the Canadian government for the construction of the PRGT to proceed. PRGT has confirmed that, once approval is granted, site preparation, clearing and construction will begin almost immediately.

Edited from press release by David Rowlands

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/28102015/prince-rupert-gas-transmission-project-reaches-new-milestone-1537/