Waswanipi to manage construction of local hydro substation

Waswanipi’s rapid population and economic growth means that its power demands will soon outstrip Hydro-Québec’s local capacity. In a first for Eeyou Istchee, however, the community itself – through the Waswanipi Development Corporation – will manage the construction of a new substation on its Category 2 land.

Not only that, Waswanipi Chief Paul Gull is working to ensure that Waswanipi Cree workers currently employed by Hydro-Québec build the substation.

“I think it would develop some pride here to see Cree electricians who work for Hydro-Québec build this project,” said Gull. “I would certainly be proud to see that happen.”
Gull negotiated with Réal Laporte, president of Hydro-Québec Équipement and President and CEO of the Société d’énergie de la Baie James (SEBJ), to ensure Waswanipi would manage the project. The Waswanipi Development Corporation (WDC) will partner with Rouyn-Noranda firm Moreau during the construction.
Gull says WDC entities could see up to $14 million in spin-off contracts from the project. The Waswanipi Mishtuk forestry company has already cleared the site for the substation, which underwent an environmental assessment in 2012-13. The development permit was issued last spring.
“We’ve never had a project of this scale,” said Gull. “It’s the beginning of a lot of things that we could possibly do in this community. We have to do something for the 100 youth here who turn 18 every year. I want to stop the migration of our youth to Montreal.”
Knowing this project was coming, two years ago Gull spoke to graduates of the Niskamoon program who were heading to jobs with Hydro-Québec. “During the ceremony I asked them if they would like to come work for their community,” Gull recounted. The young grads were enthusiastic about the idea.
Under the Paix des Braves agreement, Hydro-Québec committed to employing at least 150 Cree employees. Over the past decade, at least 15 Waswanipi community members found jobs with Hydro-Québec. Now Chief Gull wants them to come home, at least for a while.
“They’re working all over the place – LG2, LG3, LG4 and at Chibougamau,” he observed. “So I asked Hydro-Québec if it would be possible to loan these workers to us during the construction of the substation.”
A handful could even stay on after construction to operate the substation, Gull added.
The substation is scheduled to begin construction in the spring and be commissioned in the fall of 2015. It will be connected to Hydro-Québec’s newer, more powerful 315-kV grid, which will ensure sufficient electricity will be supplied to the community for the foreseeable future. The current substation, located beside Route 113, is reaching its transforming capacity. The community would soon have suffered power outages during what Hydro-Québec calls the “peak period loss” of one of Waswanipi’s two power transformers.

Gull noted that the new power will also allow the nearby Metanor mine to run an extra production shift. Power limits mean the mine can only run one 12-hour shift per day, but plans to add another 12-hour shift once electrical supply is augmented.

For Waswanipi, the new project means energy security, jobs, contracts and sufficient power for the new community centre now under construction.