Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) announced Tuesday that it has approved plans by TransCanada Corp. unit Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) to expand its Northwest Mainline, which would link natural gas supplies in the Upper Peace River region to markets in Canada and the United States.

Under the C$324 million plan, NGTL plans to build and operate three natural gas pipeline loops in northeast British Columbia and northwest Alberta along existing rights-of-way. The length of the pipelines would total 111.2 kilometers (69 miles).

The NEB said it agreed with NGTL’s findings that there was adequate demand for the natural gas to be supplied by the project, and that the company would minimize potential environmental impact by using existing rights-of-way, thereby eliminating the need for new access roads.

NGTL is still required to meet pipeline integrity and environmental conditions, and ensure that it is protecting caribou habitat. It also has to hold public meetings and consult with Aboriginal communities. The Aboriginal community also is to be included in construction monitoring of the project.

In January the NEB approved NGTL’s C$307 million Horn River Project, which extends the company’s Alberta System to a tie-in point on the Northwest Mainline (see Daily GPI, Jan. 28). Regulators approved the Groundbirch Pipeline, which runs 77.2 kilometers (48 miles) and links Alberta with British Columbia, nearly two years ago (see Daily GPI, March 8, 2010).

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