Power returns to Nunavut community, but conservation continues

Some of Pangnirtung’s new emergency generators are now stored in the building shown here. (PHOTO BY DAVID KILABUK)

Life isn’t quite back to the way it was a week ago in Pangnirtung, although efforts are still underway to bring “some normalcy back to the community” of 1,500, where the power plant burned down April 2.

Since 12:50 a.m. on April 6, power has been back on throughout the community, thanks to generators installed by the Qulliq Energy Corp. throughout the town.

But the local state of emergency, declared April 2, will continue until “a more permanent, mid-term solution can be implemented,” the Government of Nunavut said in its 3 p.m. April 6 update on the crisis in Pangnirtung.

For some, the continued state of emergency means an extended break from work.

GN offices in Pangnirtung will be closed “until further notice,” the GN said April 6 because network services are offline until power is stabilized.

“Please listen to the local community radio station for office closure information,” was the latest advice.

The warming centre at the high school will remain open until 5 p.m. April 6 — and the community emergency command centre will also move to the hamlet office later on April 6..

And some buildings, such as the community health centre and both schools, will remain on back-up generators to relieve power loads on the main feeder lines, the GN bulletin said.

“These measures will be used to address immediate power demands until a more permanent, mid-term solution can be implemented,” it said.

QEC technicians are also monitoring power capacity as services are brought online.

As a result, the GN warned there may be periodic outages as technicians stabilize the system.

So people in Pangnirtung has been asked to continue to conserve power.