The value of construction contracts for Canada’s first entry into global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade has reached C$4.7 billion ($3.5 billion) after LNG Canada announced initial work awards for its terminal underway on the west coast.

The international export consortium led by Royal Dutch Shell plc reported approving C$937 million ($703 million) in construction assignments for the Kitimat terminal in British Columbia (BC), with the majority going to BC and native contractors.

For the terminal’s supply pipeline, Coastal GasLink, TransCanada Corp. has announced C$3.8 billion ($2.8 billion) in work, including C$1 billion ($750 million) for aboriginal firms.

The mammoth project continues to face environmental and native protests that face days in court and the regulatory arena during March.

An injunction against aboriginal interference with pipeline construction preparations that led to 14 highly publicized arrests this month is to be reviewed by the BC Supreme Court.

An environmentalist demand for federal approvals, on top of provincial permits for the LNG project, also has been granted a hearing before the National Energy Board.