LNG Canada’s contracts value passes $702 mln

LNG Canada, the Shell-led joint venture building the liquefied natural gas project in Kitimat, British Columbia, so far invested over C$937 million ($702.6 million) in contracts and subcontracts with First Nations enterprises and other businesses across Canada.

This includes C$175 million to local First Nations businesses and, with the addition of contracts awarded to local Kitimat area businesses, including First Nations businesses, that total increases to C$330 million and C$530 million with the addition of BC businesses outside the local area.

The economic benefits of the project extend far beyond British Columbia, with nearly C$400 million in contracts and subcontracts approved for businesses across Canada. As the project progresses, more contracts will be awarded to benefit Canadian communities.

“What these contracts and subcontracts represent, is tremendous opportunity for individuals to find employment on the LNG Canada project through our contractors and subcontractors,” says Susannah Pierce, LNG Canada’s director external relations.

During the month of October 2018, the first month in the construction phase of the project, 249 workers from the local area, including First Nations, were employed by LNG Canada or one of its contractors.

By the end of construction, LNG Canada and the Coastal GasLink pipeline project that is needed to transport natural gas from northeastern B.C. to the LNG export facility near Kitimat, expect to employ approximately 10,000 Canadian workers.

Coastal GasLink earlier said that $620 million worth of contracts to First Nations, with an additional $400 million to be awarded during the remainder of construction.

The project includes the construction of two liquefaction trains totaling 14 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with the potential to expand to four trains in the future.

Besides Shell, LNG Canada JV partners include Malaysia’s Petronas, PetroChina, Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation and Kogas of South Korea.