August 23, 2005

New hydro plant opened after four years of construction

TOULNUSTOUC, Que.

Hydro-Quebec officially inaugurated a new hydroelectric generating station in Toulnustouc, near the Manicouagan complex on the province’s north shore.

Premier Jean Charest and Natural Resources Minister Pierre Corbeil joined Hydro chairman Thierry Vandal at the opening.

Raphael Picard, chief of the Betsiamites Innu, also took part in the event. The Manicouagan complex is on territory claimed by the small native community that is also challenging the Quebec government and forestry company Kruger Inc. over harvesting of wood on Rene-Lavasseur Island.

Construction of Toulnustouc began in November 2001. Last summer, 1,340 people worked on the worksite, which cost $1 billion. Corbeil said nearly 65 per cent of the workforce came from the region, including 10 per cent who were Betsiamites Innu.

“I am happy to say that the Toulnustouc station was accomplished with a bigger respect for people and communities in the north shore, which includes aboriginal communities, and with a perspective for sustainable development,” Charest said in a news release.

In four years, workers and engineers have built a dam with a height of 77 metres above the Toulnustouc River.

The 525-megawatt generating station in Toulnustouc began its operations July 1, six months ahead of schedule. It will produce about 2.7 terawatt-hours of power annually, enough to meet nearly a quarter of all the energy needs for the region, northeast of Quebec City.

According to Hydro-Quebec, 1 tWh corresponds to the annual electrical consumption of 60,000 average residential customers.

Canadian Press

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