Coastal GasLink, the TC Energy natural gas pipeline under construction between Dawson Creek and Kitimat, says it is aware of anonymous claims made on an anarchist website of a 㽶Ƶֱcoordinated sabotage attack㽶Ƶֱ on the project.
The article published on an anarchist website claims that sections of the Coastal GasLink pipeline have been vandalized over the past few months with a goal to 㽶Ƶֱcontribute to the small delays㽶Ƶֱ in the already over-budget project.
㽶ƵֱWe drilled holes less than a penny wide in a section of pipe that had not yet been lowered into the trench. We covered the holes with fiberglass film, which temporarily prevents leaks in the pipes, but only lasts a few months,㽶Ƶֱ the article claims.
The 670-kilometre pipeline is now expected to cost around $14.5 billion and that could climb by another $1.2 billion if construction continues into 2024.
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㽶ƵֱWhile we have no evidence at this time to suggest tampering has occurred, we take every threat to the integrity of our pipeline infrastructure very seriously,㽶Ƶֱ CGL said in a media release on Monday, Feb. 27.
㽶ƵֱWe are fully cooperating with the RCMP in an investigation of these claims and as always, will prioritize the safety of our work crews and the communities around us. Our quality assurance team has initiated a review of the anarchist claims.㽶Ƶֱ
Meanwhile, the RCMP is not commenting on these latest allegations but does say that all incidents of reported damage to infrastructure or equipment are investigated fully.
Staff Sergeant Kris Clark, a media relations officer with the RCMP, said police are aware of 㽶Ƶֱongoing efforts by some individuals and groups to delay or obstruct the work of Coastal GasLink.㽶Ƶֱ
These latest claims follow what CGL calls 㽶Ƶֱa concerning trend of escalating violence㽶Ƶֱ from an alleged axe attack at a Coastal GasLink site near Houston a year ago to an alleged arson attack on first responder vehicles in Smithers last October.
㽶ƵֱAttacks to energy infrastructure should concern all Canadians. Regardless of their authenticity, we believe these claims are intended to delay our project and spread fear and violence,㽶Ƶֱ CGL said.
㽶ƵֱThey must not be tolerated or accepted, and we believe most Canadians would agree.㽶Ƶֱ
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Skeena BC Liberal MLA Ellis Ross said he takes the website㽶Ƶֱs claims 㽶Ƶֱvery seriously㽶Ƶֱ in a Feb. 27 interview with Black Press Media, adding the online article seems to be written by someone with knowledge of the project.
The article further details how welded sections of coated pipe are assessed before being lowered into the trench. After the trench is backfilled, they are tested under pressure. The holes were sealed in the hope that they would pass the first pressure test, but will have to be excavated and repaired before the pipeline is completed, the article says.
㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs somebody who understands how the logistics of the pipeline work,㽶Ƶֱ said Ross.
㽶ƵֱI want to know what we㽶Ƶֱre going to do as a province to combat these terrorist activities.㽶Ƶֱ
Another article on the same website claims responsibility for burning RCMP vehicles and an ambulance in Smithers last October. Ross wants to know the results of investigations into that and of the on-site axe attack incident yielded.
Ross believes the website is part of a sophisticated, two-pronged campaign against the pipeline.
One is what he calls 㽶Ƶֱcoordinated assaults㽶Ƶֱ on pipeline workers and torching police vehicles. The other is in communicating through websites that are hard to track.
㽶ƵֱThis is dangerous. This is terrorism. I think it㽶Ƶֱs time that we address this violence,㽶Ƶֱ said Ross.
㽶ƵֱAnd those that condone this have got to be called out. This is not the society we want to live in.㽶Ƶֱ
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CGL added the thousands people working on major projects such as its pipeline deserve to work in a safe environment, 㽶Ƶֱwithout fear of sabotage or other violent attacks, while they provide for their families and communities.㽶Ƶֱ
㽶ƵֱCoastal GasLink is focused on safely completing this critical piece of energy infrastructure that will deliver critical Canadian LNG to the world and lasting prosperity to Canadians.㽶Ƶֱ
The company highlighted that inspections are done 㽶Ƶֱat every step of the way during pipeline construction,㽶Ƶֱ from the time trenching begins to the point the pipeline is backfilled.
㽶ƵֱOur teams use state-of-the-art pipeline safety systems to carefully inspect every section of pipe, not to mention the rigorous testing we do before the pipeline is commissioned,㽶Ƶֱ CGL wrote.
㽶ƵֱWe recognize that there are different opinions about projects like Coastal GasLink, however threats of tampering, sabotage, and violence are never justified.㽶Ƶֱ
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