Leading engineering and construction major Vinci said a joint venture between one of its subsidiaries Spiecapag Canada Corp and Macro Pipelines has been awarded a C$900 million (about $677 million) contract to build two sections of gas pipeline in the province of Vancouver.

The deal, awarded by Canadian energy infrastructure operator TransCanada Corporation, includes the construction of more than 166 km of gas pipeline (sections 5 and 8) as part of the 670 km Coastal GasLink Pipeline.

The contract amount is split, with 60 per cent going to Spiecapag and 40 per cent to Macro Pipelines Inc, said a statement from Vinci.

The joint venture will carry out a pre-construction planning phase pending a positive final investment decision by LNG Canada for a proposed natural gas liquefaction facility in Kitimat, British Columbia. The decision is expected in the fourth quarter of 2018, with construction set to get under way in early 2019.

Spiecapag CEO Bruno Guy de Chamisso said: "Alongside our joint venture partner Macro Pipelines Inc., we are proud to be part of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project and to furnish our expertise in gas pipeline construction."

"Our ability to perform works in mountainous environments with steep slopes enabled us to win this large contract. Additionally, the project will provide opportunities to qualified local businesses and suppliers along the pipeline route and employment for roughly 900 people hired directly," he noted.

In October 2017, Spiecapag and its partner Macro Pipelines also won the contract in British Columbia to build a 36-inch oil pipeline as part of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.-TradeArabia News Service