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91ƵTrend of escalating violence91Ƶ: Coastal GasLink decries pipeline sabotage claims on anarchist site

Post on anarchist site says holes drilled in pipeline to further delay over-budget project
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An anonymous article titled 91ƵTreasure Hunt for Coastal Gaslink91Ƶ claims sections of the Coastal GasLink pipeline were vandalized to delay construction. (Screenshot)

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 91Ƶcoordinated sabotage attack91Ƶ 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 91Ƶcontribute to the small delays91Ƶ in the already over-budget project.

91ƵWe 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,91Ƶ 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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91ƵWhile 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,91Ƶ CGL said in a media release on Monday, Feb. 27.

91ƵWe 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.91Ƶ

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 91Ƶongoing efforts by some individuals and groups to delay or obstruct the work of Coastal GasLink.91Ƶ

These latest claims follow what CGL calls 91Ƶa concerning trend of escalating violence91Ƶ 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.

91ƵAttacks 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,91Ƶ CGL said.

91ƵThey must not be tolerated or accepted, and we believe most Canadians would agree.91Ƶ

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Skeena BC Liberal MLA Ellis Ross said he takes the website91Ƶs claims 91Ƶvery seriously91Ƶ 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.

91ƵIt91Ƶs somebody who understands how the logistics of the pipeline work,91Ƶ said Ross.

91ƵI want to know what we91Ƶre going to do as a province to combat these terrorist activities.91Ƶ

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 91Ƶcoordinated assaults91Ƶ on pipeline workers and torching police vehicles. The other is in communicating through websites that are hard to track.

91ƵThis is dangerous. This is terrorism. I think it91Ƶs time that we address this violence,91Ƶ said Ross.

91ƵAnd those that condone this have got to be called out. This is not the society we want to live in.91Ƶ

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CGL added the thousands people working on major projects such as its pipeline deserve to work in a safe environment, 91Ƶwithout fear of sabotage or other violent attacks, while they provide for their families and communities.91Ƶ

91ƵCoastal 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.91Ƶ

The company highlighted that inspections are done 91Ƶat every step of the way during pipeline construction,91Ƶ from the time trenching begins to the point the pipeline is backfilled.

91ƵOur 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,91Ƶ CGL wrote.

91ƵWe recognize that there are different opinions about projects like Coastal GasLink, however threats of tampering, sabotage, and violence are never justified.91Ƶ

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