By Curtis Galbraith

TransCanada has plans for new pipelines in this area

Jan 15, 2018 | 4:30 AM

TransCanada says it is planning to build four new pipelines in this area.

Construction of two of those would start this year.

One would run north of Hythe, close to the north end of Horse Lake First Nation. Construction of the 16-kilometre natural gas line is expected to start in the third quarter of this year if regulatory approvals come through.

Another would cross the Wapiti River south of Elmworth. It would also be 16 kilometres long and is also subject to approval.

Two other lines, one in the Huallen area and another south of Grande Prairie, would be built in 2019.

TransCanada says in a statement these are all part of a larger expansion totaling 300 kilometres to its Nova Gas Transmission system, an expansion natural gas producers had asked for.

The company adds that a project description is expected to go to the National Energy Board in the early part of this year. It also plans to talk to affected stakeholders and Indigenous groups.