Coastal GasLink hosted a signing ceremony in Vancouver between TransCanada and its conditionally awarded prime construction partners. Credit: TransCanada Corporation.

TransCanada has awarded contracts totalling C$2.8bn ($2.1bn) to four companies for the construction of the proposed Coastal GasLink pipeline project, which aims to deliver natural gas from Dawson Creek, British Columbia (BC), to a facility near Kitimat.

The contractors selected to build the 670km pipeline project are the Surerus Murphy and Macro Spiecapag joint ventures, SA Energy Group and Pacific Atlantic Pipeline Construction.

The construction of the pipeline is subject to a positive final investment decision on the C$40bn ($30.08bn) LNG Canada project, which involves the development of a natural gas liquefaction facility in Kitimat.

“The project will create significant employment opportunities for indigenous communities in northern BC, as well as local skilled labourers and businesses.”

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project president Rick Gateman said: “The selection of our construction team is an important milestone for the Coastal GasLink project.

“The project will create significant employment opportunities for indigenous communities in northern BC, as well as local skilled labourers and businesses.

“Our pipeline, connecting prolific northeastern BC gas to high value, international end-use markets via the LNG Canada liquefaction facility in Kitimat, will allow British Columbians and Canadians alike the opportunity to more effectively benefit from the responsible development of our valuable natural gas resources.”

During the four-year construction period, the contractors are expected to employ 2,500 workers.

Once the natural gas is transported through the Coastal GasLink pipeline to the facility near Kitimat, it is converted into a liquid for export by LNG Canada.

Thereafter, it will be shipped to Asian markets.