A British Columbia-based company is part of a collaborative effort that has secured a significant contract for the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project. The Surerus Murphy Joint Venture, involving the Nisga’a Nation and Western LNG, will construct the initial section of the new pipeline running from northeastern B.C. to Ksi Lisims LNG on the north coast.
Having previously worked on the Coastal GasLink and TransMountain expansion projects, as well as the ongoing construction of the Eagle Mountain pipeline for Woodfibre LNG, the Surerus Murphy Joint Venture was selected based on its track record and local expertise in major infrastructure development within British Columbia.
Sean Surerus, the president of Surerus Pipeline headquartered in Fort St. John and a key figure in the joint venture with J. Murphy and Sons from the U.K., expressed enthusiasm for the economic benefits this project will bring to the region and the province as a whole.
Eva Clayton, president of Nisga’a Lisims Government, emphasized the commitment to engaging Canadian businesses and local companies in the project’s execution. The contractors involved are expected to devise Indigenous participation plans for recruitment and procurement, ensuring that significant economic advantages remain in British Columbia through local partnerships.
The construction company, Surerus Murphy, will be responsible for building approximately 193 kilometers of pipeline between Chetwynd and Mackenzie, with operations near Highway 97 before veering towards the coast. The company highlighted its familiarity with the challenging terrain and its ability to effectively manage construction impacts in the rugged landscape, citing prior experience in the area.
Allseas, a Swiss-based company, has been tasked with laying the subsea pipeline at the project’s endpoint. Surerus emphasized that the terrain’s characteristics, seasonal dynamics, and environmental considerations are well understood by their crews, minimizing potential challenges compared to international contractors unfamiliar with Canadian conditions.
On another front, Rebecca Scott, a spokesperson for Western LNG, mentioned that a final investment decision for the Ksi Lisims project is anticipated by the year’s end. With half of the facility’s 12-million tonne annual output already earmarked for buyers, additional agreements and construction updates are on the horizon, signaling positive progress for the initiative.
The successful approval of the final investment decision would mark the commencement of construction on the facility and pipeline in early 2027, bringing tangible economic benefits and opportunities to the region.