TransCanada says it’s awarded $620 million dollars in contract work to Indigenous businesses for a natural gas pipeline.
The Coastal GasLink project would pipe natural gas from the northeast to the proposed LNG Canada liquifaction project in Kitimat.
The conditional contract work involves right-of-way clearing, medical, security, and camp management needs.
“The relationships we have built with our local and Indigenous communities play a vital role in the work that we do every day,” said George Hemeon, senior manager, Indigenous & Local Contracting and Employment for the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project in a news release. “Today is a testament to how important these relationships are and to the extraordinary accomplishments we can achieve when we work together.”
Some of the Nations participating in the work include the West Moberly, Lheidli T’enneh, Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation (Burns Lake Band), and the Saik’uz.
“Kyah Resources Inc. brings together Witset First Nation and Roga Contracting. We are proud of our company. We’re proud to be working with Coastal GasLink to clear a particularly difficult stretch of the Right of Way. This day has been a long time coming,” said Troy Young of Kyah Resources in a news release. “We couldn’t be happier that Witset and Wet’suwet’en businesses and people will be working our territory to help make this project a reality. “
TransCanada expects the project will produce another $400 million in additional contract and employment opportunities.
Coastal GasLink says it has signed project agreements with 95 per cent of Indigenous communities along the pipeline route.
LNG Canada is expected to make a Final Investment Decision on the LNG plant some time this year.
