A British Columbia company, as part of a collaboration, has secured a significant contract for the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission initiative. The Surerus Murphy Joint Venture, involving the Nisga’a Nation and Western LNG, will be responsible for constructing the initial portion of the new pipeline connecting northeastern B.C. to Ksi Lisims LNG on the north coast. Notably, Surerus Murphy has prior experience in working on key projects like Coastal GasLink, TransMountain expansion, and the ongoing Eagle Mountain pipeline for Woodfibre LNG. Both developers emphasized selecting Surerus Murphy due to its expertise and local familiarity in handling major infrastructure projects in B.C.
According to Eva Clayton, president of Nisga’a Lisims Government, a commitment has been made to engage Canadian businesses and local companies in the project. Contractors will be mandated to create an Indigenous participation plan for recruitment and subcontracting. The selected crews are well-acquainted with the challenging terrain, with Swiss-based Allseas tasked with laying the subsea pipeline at the project’s terminus. Surerus Murphy is set to construct approximately 193 kilometers of pipeline between Chetwynd and Mackenzie, operating near Highway 97 before veering towards the coastal area.
Sean Surerus, president of Surerus Pipeline, expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential to boost the local economy and enhance the region’s development. He highlighted the company’s extensive experience in the area, underscoring the team’s adeptness in managing construction challenges in the rugged landscape. Moreover, a final investment decision for the Ksi Lisims project is anticipated by the year-end, with Western LNG aiming to kick off construction in early 2027 upon a positive outcome. This decision aligns with the project’s goal of fostering local opportunities and maximizing benefits for the northern region.