Cleanup gets underway on Nunavik power plant diesel spill

Hydro-Québec is working to clean up a 10,000-litre diesel fuel oil spill in Ivujivik, which took place this past weekend. (FILE PHOTO)

Hydro-Québec says a big diesel spill at a Nunavik power plant has been contained.

The spill took place late Aug. 1 and into the morning of Aug. 2 at a generating station that supplies power to the Hudson Strait community of Ivujivik.

An Aug. 3 news release from Hydro-Québec said its representatives are in contact with people in Ivujivik and plan to keep them updated on any developments.

A Hydro-Québec liaison officer, who is fluent in Inuktitut, is on site, the release said. As well, a specialized team was to arrive Aug. 3 to look at the spill.

Hydro-Québec said that confinement measures were set up as soon as the spill was observed, and the power corporation notified Quebec’s sustainable development department, the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Hydro-Québec said it’s provided government officials with the information they need about the spill.

The power corporation said its preliminary evaluations indicate that about 10,000 litres of diesel were spilled.

Measures to recover the fuel and to clean and rehabilitate the site are already underway and will continue, Hydro-Québec said.

The generating station is operating normally and continues to supply the community of 370 with electricity.