FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. - A company with deep roots in Fort St. John has been awarded the first land construction contract on the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) project.
The move expected to generate economic opportunities for the Peace Region as one of Canada’s largest energy infrastructure developments moves forward.
PRGT announced it has signed a construction agreement with Surerus Murphy Joint Venture (SMJV), marking the first land construction contract awarded for the natural gas pipeline.
Thr pipeline will transport natural gas from northeastern British Columbia to the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility on the province’s northwest coast.
The contract is particularly significant for Fort St. John, as Surerus Murphy includes Surerus Pipeline Inc., a family-owned company based in the city.
The joint venture combines more than a century of pipeline construction experience and has worked on major energy infrastructure projects across Western Canada.
“This project presents an opportunity for Canada and our increasingly important energy export market,” said Mick Fitzpatrick, President of Surerus Murphy Joint Venture, who noted the company is looking to contribute to the communities where construction takes place.
The announcement is being viewed as another indicator of growing economic activity tied to LNG development and natural gas exports in northeastern B.C.
Communities such as Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and surrounding areas have positioned themselves as key suppliers of labour, services and expertise for major energy projects.
The PRGT pipeline is designed to originate in northeastern B.C., placing the Peace Region at the centre of the supply chain supporting the development.
PRGT president and CEO Davis Thames said choosing a contractor with experience building pipelines in northern B.C. will help reduce risk during construction.
“There is no substitute for a contractor that has already built a pipeline through this terrain,” Thames said. “Surerus Murphy’s experience building major projects in northern B.C. means fewer surprises and faster problem-solving.”
The project also includes commitments aimed at ensuring local benefits remain in British Columbia. As part of the agreement, Surerus Murphy must develop a local and Indigenous participation plan, a requirement PRGT says will apply to all prime contractors working on the project.
Eric Clayton, President of the Nisga’a Lisims Government, said the approach is intended to maximize economic opportunities for local and Indigenous businesses.
“When we build with Canadian companies, and those companies subcontract to local and Indigenous businesses, that means huge benefits stay right here in British Columbia,” Clayton said.
PRGT was acquired from TC Energy by the Nisga’a Nation and Western LNG in 2024 and is being promoted as an Indigenous-led infrastructure project.
For Fort St. John and the broader Peace Region, the contract award signals that construction activity is beginning to ramp up, potentially creating work for local contractors, suppliers, Indigenous businesses and skilled trades workers as the project advances toward full-scale construction.