One of the biggest industrial developers active in the northern region is officially opening an office in Prince George.
TransCanada PipeLines announced Tuesday that it is opening the doors to the public at a ceremony on Thursday. Tours and a barbecue will be part of the festivities, plus live music.
"TransCanada is currently planning two new natural gas pipeline projects in northern British Columbia: Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project and Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project," said a written statement from the company. "The new Prince George office will become an important regional base for local employees helping to advance these projects."
In addition to the new office in Prince George, TransCanada has offices in Fort St. John, Cranbrook, and Vancouver. The company has been operating in B.C. for the past 50 years, starting with the Foothills Pipeline system in southeastern B.C. The local office is located at 760 Kinsmen Place.
According to TransCanada, the Coastal GasLink pipeline project is a proposed natural gas pipeline from the Dawson Creek area to the liquid natural gas liquefaction facility proposed to be developed by Shell Canada Ltd. and its partners near Kitimat. Pending regulatory approvals and final corporate investment decisions, TransCanada expects to commence construction in 2015 with in-service targeted toward the end of the decade.
The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project is a proposed natural gas pipeline that originates near the District of Hudson's Hope to a proposed liquefied natural gas facility for Progress Energy Canada Ltd. on Lelu Island within the District of Port Edward. Pending the same decision-making process, that too is expected to begin construction in 2015 and be complete in 2018.
"Once they're in the ground and transporting gas, the two pipelines are also expected to generate more than $40 million in annual property tax payments for local regions," said the company statement.
