Nunavut on track to get 5 new power plants

Design work is underway on the $122-million replacement of three aging Nunavut power plants, John Main, the minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corp., told the legislative assembly Thursday, the first day of its spring sitting.

Two other power plants due to be replaced are at the tendering and land acquisition stages.

“These investments are critical to strengthening energy reliability, supporting future integration of renewables, and ensuring long-term sustainability,” Main said during his minister’s statement.

Replacement of the power plants in Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven and Igloolik was approved by the Government of Nunavut in 2021. At that time, they were expected to be completed sometime in 2026.

However, Qulliq Energy only awarded contracts for the projects last November.

It commissioned Adco Power Ltd. to construct the $50.2-million power plant in Cambridge Bay, and Pilitak Enterprises Ltd. was tasked to replace power plants in Gjoa Haven and Igloolik with expected costs of more than $36 million and $35.7 million, respectively.

The Arctic Energy Fund, a $400-million federal government fund introduced in 2017, covers 75 per cent of the projects’ costs. The remaining 25 per cent will be paid by Qulliq Energy, according to the permit applications.

“Design work is underway in all three communities, with roughly 50 per cent of the drawings completed and major equipment ordered,” Main said Thursday.

Construction on the three power plants is set to begin in the 2025-26 fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2026.

As well, Main said there is a public tender for replacement of a plant in Kugluktuk which has been delayed multiple times since 2018, and “land acquisition efforts” for a plant in Kugaaruk.

In addition to the five power plants, Qulliq Energy is set to replace generators in several communities including Kugaaruk, Baker Lake, Iqaluit, Sanikiluaq, Kimmirut, Coral Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove, Pond Inlet and Rankin Inlet. Several of the plans are already moving into the construction phase, Main said.

As well, Qulliq Energy plans to install emergency generators in Coral Harbour, Grise Fiord, Kugluktuk and Igloolik that will provide “backup power and strengthen community resilience during outages and maintenance periods,” Main said.

A 2015 Senate report looking at Nunavut’s aging infrastructure noted that 14 of the territory’s 25 communities had power plants well past their lifespan.