Affectionately referred to as the beating heart of the Coastal GasLink Project, Coastal GasLink celebrated the completion of its Wilde Lake Compressor Facility near Dawson Creek in northeastern British Columbia.
It was a momentous occasion for the Coastal GasLink Team, who came together with workers, partners, Indigenous and local community leadership, and many others to commemorate the safe completion of the largest greenfield natural gas compressor station that has ever been built by TC Energy in a single phase.
The Wilde Lake facility will serve as the starting point for the natural gas pipeline, compressing the gas to provide the pressure required to safely deliver the gas all the way to LNG Canada's site in Kitimat.
Coastal GasLink’s President Bevin Wirzba was incredibly excited as he addressed all those gathered to witness the feat of engineering that is the Wilde Lake facility.
Today’s milestone was made possible by our workers and partners who placed safety and respect for people and the environment at the forefront each and every day. Together, they achieved the completion of this world-class facility on time and with an astounding safety record.”
Bevin Wirzba, Coastal GasLink’s President
Not only was the facility delivered safely and efficiently, it will also meet and exceed already high standards for environmental protection due to the innovation of our team who integrated methane-reducing technology, that will see emissions reduced 7 times over our original design.
“With Coastal GasLink, we are setting a new precedent for how we contribute to the clean energy transition – sustainably, safely and in partnership with Indigenous and local communities,” noted Wirzba. “This is sustainable energy the world needs more than ever, and with the completion of the Wilde Lake facility today, we are one major step closer to collectively delivering it.“
The completed facility is the result of 500 of the hardest working women and men who came together as a team to construct the facility, including many from the local community, over two and a half years.
And while they placed safety and respect for people and the environment as their top priorities, they also had fun along the way to give back to the surrounding communities. From 50/50 draws, to golf tournaments and other fundraisers, the team raised more than $40,000 to support local initiatives
Coastal GasLink and all those gathered for the event were honoured to have Chief Trevor Makadahay from the Doig River First Nation share what the project has meant to their community and provide a blessing for safe operations.
As drummers from Doig River First Nation performed a traditional drum song, Bevin Wirzba noted, “we are reminded that while the Wilde Lake facility will serve as the beating heart of the natural gas infrastructure, it is the relationships we hold with our Indigenous and local communities that are the beating heart of our legacy.”
While this is the end of construction, it is just the beginning of more opportunity. Looking forward, our team will continue to have a lasting presence here in the region, providing local employment and benefits for decades to come.” Bevin Wirzba, Coastal GasLink's President
As Coastal GasLink approaches 75% overall completion, the team looks forward to celebrating more milestones with their Indigenous and community partners in the near future and in a little over a year when the Coastal GasLink project – a critical link for Canadian LNG to world markets – will be completed.
Key Facts about Wilde Lake
- Facility includes three compressor stations and four meter stations and represents the largest greenfield natural gas compressor station built by TC Energy in a single phase
- Designed to safely transport 2.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (bcf/d) from Groundbirch, B.C. to Kitimat, with the potential to increase capacity
- Innovative application of leading technology to reduce methane emissions up to seven times what was originally estimated
- Natural gas exports facilitated by Coastal GasLink could reduce annual global CO2 emissions by 60 to 90 million tonnes
- More than 500 women and men spent a total of more than a million person hours to build the facility
- Completed over 24 months of construction with no lost time injuries
- Over 24,000 diameter inches of welds, 2,700 piles installed and almost 120 kms of cable pulled
- The Wilde Lake team supported many community initiatives during the construction period, raising more than $40,000 through fundraisers
With our operations facility established in Dawson Creek, Coastal GasLink will employ many local workers and support the community for decades to come
