Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project Breaks Ground
Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project Breaks Ground
Community leaders, members and other project and public officials gathered today at this small Northwestern Ontario Ojibway Community for a ceremonial ground breaking of the Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project, a major investment in renewable energy and the Community’s largest economic initiative in history.
The project is being undertaken by the Pic Mobert Hydro Power Joint Venture, a joint venture of subsidiary companies of the Pic Mobert First Nation and Regional Power Inc.; the joint venture is equally owned by the two partners.
Regional Power is has been in the business of developing, building, refurbishing and operating hydroelectric power plants since 1985. Currently, Regional Power operates eight hydro plants with a total generating capacity of 56 megawatts. The Company is expected to complete the construction of its 34 MW Long Lake project before the end of the year and has just commenced construction of the Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project. Regional Power is recognized as a reliable and trustworthy partner for local stakeholders, government agencies, and our joint venture partners and has an experienced, effective, and forward thinking management team.
“This is the greatest economic achievement of our Nation and People in our modern history”, said Chief Johanna Desmoulin. “This has been a long journey that has been motivated and energized by our People who will benefit from this work for many generations.”
“I always believed that this day would come”, said Band Councillor Wayne Sabourin, who acted as the Community’s lead and champion for the project since 2000. “I was never discouraged – this is a dream that I had for my children, and we didn’t stop until we got there”.
The Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project consists of two water power generating stations with a combined generating capacity of 18.9 MW, Gitchi Animki Bezhig, and Gitchi Animki Niizh. Gitchi Animki Bezhig, once completed, will also replace the function of an old Ministry of Natural Resources’ regulating dam that manages lake levels and flood flows on White Lake. The developments are located in the traditional territory of the Netamasakomik People of the Pic Mobert First Nation, and was one of the first contracted under the Ontario Power Authority’s Feed in Tariff Program.
“It’s been a long and challenging journey, but we have shared the Community’s vision from the start, and are delighted to have achieved this significant milestone”, said Regional Power’s President, Colin Coolican.
Sharing in the celebration were Pic Mobert band members and school children who shared their perspectives on how the project will benefit their Community.
Financing for the project has been provided by Manulife Financial, the leading Canadian project finance lender in the renewable energy field.
The project has also benefited from funding from numerous programs over the years. “The range and extent of support of assistance from Ontario, Canada and the Ontario Power Authority, has been tremendous and timely”, said Norman Jaehrling, Managing Director for the Gitchi Animki Energy Corporation, a subsidiary company that holds the Pic Mobert First Nation’s ownership interest in the venture. ‘Beyond financial assistance, the support and contributions of the various levels of government and local and regional stakeholders that we interacted with during the development process have been valued, and we believe have contributed to a very successful project design and plan”.
General contractor for the project is Dragados Canada Inc., a 100% owned subsidiary company of Dragados S.A. the construction arm of ACS Group, the largest contractor in Spain. Since its establishment in 1941, Dragados has gained vast experience in the heavy civil construction, including hydroelectric projects and has been active in more than 20 countries and 4 continents. The company has built over 240 dams of different type and sizes. Dragados has been active in Canada since 1997, participating primarily in large transportation infrastructure projects. Dragados’ Vice President, Major Projects, Pablo Quiros Gracian, commented that “We are very pleased to have been selected to build this project for this Community and its partners. We are committed to working with the Community and the surrounding region to maximize the local economic benefits during construction, and to ensuring a very successful outcome”. At its peak, there will be up to 125 people working on site.
Personnel and equipment are beginning to mobilize on the development sites, that are located south of the Pic Mobert community. Construction and commissioning is expected to take approximately 2 years.
