Photo: On August 22, 2024, the Gitanyow closed a road on their territory to prevent the construction of the PRGT pipeline.
The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline has been in the news the last two weeks.
The proposed pipeline, up to 780 kilometres of it land-based and up to 120 kilometres underwater, could carry up to 3.6 billion cubic feet of fracked gas per day.
It is expected that the pipeline would cross approximately 50 kilometres of Gitanyow territory and 120 kilometres of Gitxsan territory in northern British Columbia. Indigenous land defenders on these territories, along with Wet’suwet’en land defenders, have expressed their opposition to this pipeline.
It now appears the construction of the pipeline will involve not only Houston, Texas-based Western LNG, but also J. Murphy & Sons, headquartered in the United Kingdom; Allseas, a Swiss company (with Allseas Engineering B.V. offices in the Netherlands); and Bechtel, headquartered in Reston, Virginia.
“Terrestrial construction contract” with Surerus Murphy
On August 12, LNG Industry reported: “The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project (PRGT) has signed a construction agreement with Surerus Murphy Joint Venture (SMJV). The signing marks the first of what will be an all-Canadian roster of contractors for land construction. 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, headquartered in the UK with Canadian offices in Calgary and Edmonton.”
It further noted: “Surerus Murphy’s agreement is the first terrestrial construction contract awarded on the project. The marine work was awarded to Allseas, a Swiss specialist in subsea pipeline construction. PRGT is working with Bechtel, one of the world’s leading engineering and construction firms, on overall execution planning for the pipeline project, including evaluating and selecting premier contractors.”
Contract with Allseas
On July 29, Natural Gas Intelligence reported: “Two partners behind Ksi Lisims LNG have advanced the project’s planned feedgas connection to the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, awarding Allseas a contract for a critical section of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline.”
Uniper “long-term sale and purchase agreement”
That same day, Capital News also reported: “Ksi Lisims LNG has signed a major long-term sale and purchase agreement with another German energy company.”
That company is Uniper.
Final investment decision could require 9-10 Mtpa
That Capital News article further highlighted: “The deal with Uniper could go a long way to securing a final investment decision as previous deals with Shell, TotalÉnergies, and Germany’s SEFE bring the total contracted capacity to 7 Mtpa of a projected 12 Mtpa total capacity. The backers of the project, including Houston, TX-based Western LNG are looking for a commitment of 80 to 90 per cent of capacity (around 9 – 10 Mtpa) for a final investment decision.”
Mtpa refers to a million tonnes per annum or a million metric tons per year.
Hydrocarbon Processing has also previously reported this as: “Uniper and Ksi Lisims LNG have signed a Letter of Interest (LOI) outlining key commercial terms for a pending Supply and Purchase Agreement (SPA). The SPA would see Uniper purchase 2 million tons per year (MMtpy) of LNG on a long-term basis, further strengthening their LNG portfolio’s diversification and adding to the security of supply.”
“Currently under construction”
Capital News also noted: “The 750-kilometre pipeline − currently under construction although also awaiting a final investment decision − is proposed to run from the northeast B.C. gas fields to the north coast near the Nisga’a village of Gingolx, then underwater to the floating facility at the northern tip of Pearse Island.”
And Hydrocarbon Processing has reported: “Pending a Final Investment Decision by the project co-developers, construction could begin by early 2027. Uniper could start receiving first volumes of LNG as early as 2032.”
We continue to follow this.
Further reading
–How a submarine purchase and arms fairs are worsening security risks for Indigenous land defenders and human rights activists (PBI-Canada, June 13, 2026)
–Lax’yip Firekeepers committed to defending Gitxsan territory in northwest British Columbia from industrial megaprojects (PBI-Canada, May 20, 2026)
–PBI-Canada awaits release of report on CRCC systemic investigation of the RCMP C-IRG between early-July and mid-October 2026 (PBI-Canada, May 13, 2026)
–PBI-Canada observes call from Chief Na’Moks, Gwii Lok’im Gibuu and Katisha Paul against EDC financing of megaprojects (PBI-Canada, April 14, 2026).
