Canada’s Coastal GasLink hits 50% completion mark

Coastal GasLink, the C$6.6bn (US$5.3bn), 2.1bn ft³/day pipeline that will deliver natural gas to the Anglo-Dutch Shell-led LNG Canada project on BC’s northern coast, said November 2 it had surpassed the 50% completion mark.

But it continues to struggle with factions within the Wet’suwet’en First Nation who are opposed to the pipeline’s presence on its traditional territory along the Morice River, south of Houston in the province’s northern interior.

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Construction on the pipeline began in late 2018, and following several “significant” milestones, the project is 53.1% complete and is hosting 5,091 workers, according to CGL’s October construction update.

“This means 100% of the 670-km route is cleared, and grading is more than 60% complete,” the update said. “We’ve also safely installed more than 200 kilometres of pipe, with more being installed every day.”

But CGL says it is becoming “increasingly concerned” for the safety of its workforce and the public in the wake of an “escalation in unlawful and dangerous activities” by factions within the Wet’suwet’en First Nation.

CGL workers have encountered several blockades on service roads and across the pipeline’s right-of-way, the company said. In addition, heavy equipment has been damaged and stolen at several locations and workers have been prevented from reaching a workforce accommodation centre in the area.

Last winter, protests on behalf of certain Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders sparked a series of sympathetic protests across Canada.

“Our work is lawful, authorised, fully permitted and has the unprecedented support of local and indigenous communities and agreements in place with all 20 elected First Nation councils across the 670-km route,” CGL said. “These agreements include Wet’suwet’en Nation communities who are benefiting from training, employment and contracting opportunities.”

 RCMP in Houston said they had received several complaints about vandalism and theft, and ultimately arrested two protestors.