$10B B.C. pipeline project awards land works to Canadian team

Key Takeaways:

• The pipeline project has an estimated construction cost of $10 billion.
• The original route was shortened from 900 kilometers to 750 kilometers and redirected away from Prince Rupert to feed the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG export facility.
• Ownership was acquired in 2024 by a joint venture between Western LNG and the Nisga’a Nation, with 15 out of 20 First Nations along the corridor signing equity agreements.
• The project’s marine pipeline work was recently awarded to Swiss subsea specialist Allseas. International engineering firm Bechtel is leading overall execution planning and contractor selection.

The Whole Story:

The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project (PRGT) has awarded its first terrestrial pipeline construction agreement to Surerus Murphy Joint Venture (SMJV), establishing an all-Canadian contractor lineup for the land-based segments of the natural gas pipeline route.

Formed in 2015, Surerus Murphy is a joint venture between Surerus Pipeline Inc., a family-owned company based in Fort St. John, B.C., and J. Murphy & Sons, which is headquartered in the UK with Canadian offices in Calgary and Edmonton. Formed in 2015, Surerus Murphy combines more than 100 years of pipeline construction experience and has built major energy infrastructure projects across western Canada.

Acquired from TC Energy in 2024 by the Nisga’a Nation and Western LNG, the PRGT pipeline will transport natural gas from northeastern B.C. to the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG export facility on B.C.’s northwest coast. Initial construction began on Nisga’a Lands following the acquisition, establishing a co-owned model for Indigenous-led energy infrastructure.

“Focusing on Canadian construction companies like SMJV for the land sections of PRGT is a deliberate decision,” said Eva Clayton, President of Nisga’a Lisims Government. “When we build with Canadian companies, and those companies subcontract to local and Indigenous businesses, that means huge benefits stay right here in British Columbia.”

Mick Fitzpatrick, President of SMJV, emphasized the team’s regional experience: “As an energy infrastructure construction company rooted in Western Canada, we understand the uniqueness of this project scope intimately, and we know we can use our experience to complete this work safely and responsibly.” Western LNG CEO Davis Thames added that SMJV’s track record in northern B.C. ensures “fewer surprises and faster problem-solving.”

The terrestrial contract with SMJV follows the project’s marine pipeline award to Swiss subsea specialist Allseas. International engineering firm Bechtel is leading overall execution planning and contractor selection for the project.