TransCanada wins gas pipeline contract

Canadian pipeline company TransCanada said it was selected by Shell to build a 435-mile natural gas pipeline to a western export hub. The co-called Coastal GasLink project will carry natural gas from near Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to a liquefied natural gas export facility near Kitimat along the British Columbia coast. Russ Girling, president and chief executive officer at TransCanada, said determination of the pipeline route would consider land use, environmental and aboriginal concerns. "We appreciate the confidence that Shell and its partners have placed in us to build, own and operate this natural gas pipeline in British Columbia," he said in a statement. "We will work collaboratively with them, Aboriginals and other stakeholders as we launch into the initial phases of consultation and regulatory review." Canadian pipeline company Enbridge aims to build its Northern Gateway pipeline from tar sand projects in Alberta province to ports along the west coast. Some in the aboriginal community have expressed opposition to the plans, citing environmental concerns. The TransCanada pipeline would stretch about 435 miles and have an initial capacity of 1.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. The $4 billion is expected to go into service at the end of the decade.