BURSTWith the final investment decision made for LNG Canada’s Phase 2 expansion, plans are underway to expand the capacity of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which will bring three new compressor facilities to the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN).
“Phase 2 of the LNG Canada facility and the Coastal GasLink pipeline received a final investment decision representing a collective $33 billion commitment to building and expanding our assets here in northern B.C. and will now be proceeding into construction in 2027,” Tanner Moulton, CGL Senior Community Relations Advisor, told the RDBN board of directors during its board meeting in Burns Lake on Oct. 15.
The company aims to double the pipeline’s capacity to 5 billion cubic feet per day, without adding an additional pipeline, Moulton said.
TC Energy, CGL’s parent company plans to install a total five additional compressor facilities. Within the RDBN, compressor facilities at Segundo Lake, approximately 40 kilometres southeast of Burns Lake; Parrot Lakes, approximately 45 kilometres southeast of Houston; and Clear Creek, approximately 22 kilometres northwest of Vanderhoof are planned.
Segundo Lake and Clear Creek will have two-unit compressor stations and the Parrot Lakes location is set to have a three-unit station.
“We expect construction to start early in 2027, with compressor stations construction advancing in stages, as planning and permitting progress, and our anticipated in-service date for these compressor stations is early 2030s,” said Moulton.
CGL’s Phase 2 announcement comes in conjunction with LNG Canada’s Phase 2 approval, greenlighting the expansion of its liquified natural gas export facility in Kitimat and aiming to nearly double its production capacity, from 14 to 28 million tonnes per year.
The pipeline currently delivers 2.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily from northeastern B.C. to Kitimat.
Modifications at existing and planned facilities will also take place, including the Wilde Lake Compressor Station and Wilde Lake Meter Stations, the Kitimat Meter Station, and the planned LNG Link Meter Station.
To house workers, Moulton says the plan is for a “co-location strategy,” with each site slated to house its own workforce.
The lodges at the Segundo Lake and Clear Creek locations will be built to accommodate roughly 400 workers, while Parrot Lakes, given its remote location and third compressor, will be built to house approximately 500.
RDBN directors raised several concerns during the question and answer period, following the presentation.
Director Chris Newell of Electoral Area G (Houston/Granisle Rural) pointed to a previous “issue” regarding “low frequency noise pollution,” and asked if additional compressors could contribute to a potential increase of sound. Moulton stated that it is unknown.
“It’s actually something like one in 10 people have, this low-line frequency noise, sound, vibrations that they do hear … There’s technology out there that can assist us with that, but it will take us some time,” said Moulton, mentioning that he would follow up to discuss the issue further.
Chair Mark Parker raised concerns over potential infrastructure strain, particularly on the medical system, pointing to the potential addition of approximately 1,300 crew members within the RDBN at one time.
“We had overflow all over the place,” said Parker, referring to Phase 1 construction.
Moulton noted that CGL’s original Phase 1 projections anticipated 2,000 to 2,500 workers, though the total number neared closer to 7,300.
“I think we took those learnings forward, so I don’t anticipate the overflow at all to be the same or similar. It’s something that we’ll be monitoring… we know that it’s desired most of the folks stay within our lodges, and that is our intent,” Moulton said.
Vanderhoof’s Mayor Kevin Moutray suggested that if the company hires as many local people as they can, they won’t have to house workers.
“I see the benefit when northern people are hired, and I think it’s a matter of … getting feedback from communities on what they expect our local hiring to be,” Moulton responded.
Moulton said prime contractors are expected to be announced later this year or early in 2027. More information about local employment and contracting opportunities may become available at that time, as well as further details on construction timelines as planning and permitting continues,
Moulton deferred on answering a question from Director Michael Riis-Christianson of Electoral Area B (Burns Lake Rural) on whether CGL would be receptive to requests from local governments, such as municipalities and regional districts, for investment opportunities.
“That decision comes higher than me,” he said, adding he hadn’t heard of any discussions internally on that specific topic, but noted “we’re always open to a conversation.”
Five First Nations along the CGL corridor have secured an investment stake in the pipeline as of Oct. 13, following a finalized deal between TC Energy and the Indigenous-led FN CGL Pipeline Limited Partnership. The deal is the first of two planned Indigenous investment transactions related to CGL, with a second expected to close later this year.