What is the B.C. Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) Pipeline Project?

What is the B.C. Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) Pipeline Project?

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what is the prince rupert gas transmission (PRGT) pipeline project

Map of Previous PRGT Pipeline - TC Energy

The Nisga’a First Nation and its industry partners have now purchased the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT). This pivotal acquisition is set to supply natural gas feedstock to the up-and-coming Ksi Lisims LNG project on the northwest coast of British Columbia.

The PRGT pipeline project is crucial for several reasons:

  1. It champions Indigenous economic reconciliation, placing First Nations at the forefront of major energy infrastructure ownership
  2. It will ignite economic growth by creating thousands of jobs and contracting opportunities for Canadians and First Nations communities, particularly in remote areas where jobs are sometimes scarce
  3. It reinforces global energy security by providing a reliable and secure energy source to Asian-hungry buyers like Japan and South Korea from a democratic ally and trusted trade partner

Below we explore the PRGT pipeline and its vital role in Canada's energy future. Also see:

Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Pipeline: Quick Facts

  • Project: A 900-kilometre pipeline connecting Northeastern B.C.'s abundant natural gas fields to a proposed West Coast LNG export facility. [3]
  • Route: The pipeline will include both terrestrial and marine sections.[3]
  • Capacity: A significant 2 to 3.6 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/day).[3]
  • Specifications: The project will use a 48-inch diameter pipe and require up to nine compressor stations to maintain pressure. [4]
  • Original Plan: It was first intended to supply the now-cancelled Pacific Northwest LNG project.[3]
  • Permits:
    • B.C. Environmental Assessment Certificate (EAC) issued in 2014 [3]
    • B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO) granted EAC five-year extension in 2019 [3]
    • BCEAO deemed the pipeline “substantially started” in June 2025 [5]

PRGT Pipeline Approved, Under Construction

The PRGT project has been approved and construction has commenced. The 900-kilometre natural gas pipeline from Hudson’s Hope in northeastern British Columbia to Lelu Island on the West Coast was deemed “substantially started” by the provincial regulatory authority and is now full speed ahead with construction activities. Initially intended for the now-defunct $36 billion Pacific NorthWest LNG project, which investors abandoned in 2017, it is now set to supply gas feedstock for the Nisga’a Nation’s up-and-coming Ksi Lisims LNG.

Upon completion, the PRGT pipeline will further solidify Canada as a reliable and secure source of LNG for international buyers. It will also help usher in economic reconciliation with the Nisga'a Nation and other Indigenous communities along its route.

“Today marks another important milestone for the Nisga’a Nation on our path toward creating a... economic base in the Nass Valley for many generations of Nisga’a to come,” said Eva Clayton, President of the Nisga’a Lisims Government, in a media release upon the pipeline’s most recent approval.

“…As you know, our nation entered into an agreement with PRGT back in 2014 for the construction of the PRGT pipeline through our territories. By becoming a project owner, our Nation will be able to ensure this project creates even greater benefits for our people and for Indigenous communities right along the right-of-way. This means more training, more priority hiring, more contracts and procurement for our workers and businesses, and more investment in our Nation. It is a historic development, and an opportunity for us to create a better quality of life for our children and grandchildren here in the Nass – and for First Nations all along the pipeline route.”

“The Nisga’a Nation’s long-standing objectives have been to play a greater role in the major projects within our territories to ensure we are maximizing the upside for our people and minimizing any impacts. This acquisition will give us unprecedented opportunity to ensure this project proceeds in a way that properly reflects our values and protects what we most cherish.”

“Together with the Ksi Lisims LNG project, we are working towards successfully developing the infrastructure necessary to provide the world with... LNG...”

Cancelled LNG Projects

Canada has been on the sidelines for the past decade as nations like Qatar and the United States became global LNG powerhouses. A 2017 report highlighted that of 24 LNG projects proposed for Canada—18 in British Columbia alone—most were cancelled due to regulatory uncertainty, among other factors.

Today, with LNG Canada now complete and Woodfibre LNG under construction, our country is exporting just a fraction of its true potential. The world needs more natural gas, and the global energy crisis has underscored the urgent need for reliable, democratic suppliers. The PRGT pipeline and Ksi Lisims LNG are yet another opportunity for Canada to step up and meet that demand while benefitting economically through the creation of jobs and business activity.

Just as the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline was the key to unlocking LNG Canada, the PRGT pipeline is the essential link for the success of Ksi Lisims LNG. Building PRGT is not just about one project; it's a signal to the world that Canada is serious about its energy future, economic reconciliation, and providing the world with the resources it needs to grow and flourish.

Ksi Lisims LNG

Ksi Lisims LNG is a floating facility and marine terminal proposed by the Nisga’a Nation at Wil Milit on the northern end of Pearse Island in Northwestern B.C. With an estimated export capacity of 12 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), it will be nearly as large as LNG Canada’s first phase.

Ksi Lisims LNG and the PRGT pipeline will create thousands of jobs across Canada and much-needed opportunities for First Nations, including education, training, employment, contracting, and social and cultural investment opportunities.

Canadian LNG is Indigenous LNG

If the Ksi Lisims LNG and PRGT projects don’t go ahead, history has shown that other less reliable and less transparent producers will happily fill the void. With weak economic performance compared to our peers, it’s clear that Canadians cannot afford to miss out on any more job-creating, prosperity-generating opportunities to develop our resources.

With global LNG demand projected to grow by up to 60 per cent through 2040, it only makes sense that the world’s future supply comes from producers like Canada – don’t you agree?

SOURCES:

1 - https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/varcoe-canada-second-chance-global-player-lng

2 - https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/factsheet-lng-project-proposals-in-british-columbia

3 - https://www.bc-er.ca/what-we-regulate/major-projects/prince-rupert-gas-transmission/

4 - https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/588511d9aaecd9001b826b33/project-details

5 - https://www.interior-news.com/local-news/prgt-pipeline-gets-go-ahead-deemed-substantially-started-8054020