Studies planned for summer will determine Iqaluit hydro project final cost: Proponent
Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corp. hopes Nunavut capital city will be off diesel by 2033
Heather Shilton of Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corp. speaks Wednesday at a panel discussion on energy efficiency at the Aqsarniit Trade Show and Conference in Ottawa. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
Archeological and environmental studies over the summer will help determine the cost estimate for a proposed Iqaluit hydroelectric plant that could replace all of the city’s diesel-generated electricity.
“This project can bring about transformational change and can truly empower a thriving community,” said Heather Shilton of Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corp. during a panel discussion Wednesday at the Aqsarniit Trade Show and Conference in Ottawa.
The corporation is a subsidiary of Qikiqtaaluk Corp. and has been leading the project since 2022.
The plant could be operational by 2033. It would include an approximately 50-metre-high dam and powerhouse built along the Kuugaluk River, about 60 kilometres northeast of Iqaluit, the project plan says.
Hydroelectric power generation uses moving water to turn turbines, which spin to produce electricity.
If successful, the hydroelectric plant would provide power for at least 100 years, generating 15 megawatts of electricity a year. Iqaluit currently requires 10 to 11 megawatts.
The price of the project is yet to be estimated, but in 2017, Johnny Mike, who was at the time Nunavut’s minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corp. when the public utility was considering the hydro option, told the legislative assembly it could cost “well over $300 million, even approaching $500 million.”
During his visit to Iqaluit in February, Northern Affairs Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced $7 million in funding to conduct research.
Anandasangaree didn’t commit to federal funding to build the project, but said the federal government will be there “every step of the way.”
Shilton emphasized in her speech the importance of hydroelectricity to Nunavut’s energy security and climate action.
Iqaluit currently burns 15 million litres of diesel fuel per year at its generators, which accounts for 19 per cent of Nunavut’s entire demand.
Southern companies transport diesel to the North, making its price tag “subject to the volatility of global oil markets,” Shilton said, adding that consumers depend on geopolitical forces that are “far outside of our control.”
“It represents an economic model that once made sense and allowed Nunavut to grow early on, but I don’t think it will enable Nunavut to thrive,” she said.
Shilton spoke along with Anne Raphaëlle Audouin from Nukik Corp., Joë Lance of Tarquti Energy Inc. and Jamie Hewlett from Nunatsiavut Government with around 200 trade show delegates attending.
Here we go again, this has probably been studied to death. if QEC estimated it to be $300-$500mil in 2017. fast forward 8 years, that cost is easily doubled if not tripled. They should ask QEC as the area is already “studied” by QEC. The land and river did not change.
I thought the QEC dam project wasin a diffrent location… south east… toward Kimmirut?
The first plan was on south east side of kimmirut l
That costed $10 million to study
2nd attempt Now another study
So if the hydro damcan produce 15 mega watt
And Iqaluit already takes. 10 to 11
Mega watt
Not much room for growth in no time Iqaluit will be topped up again with the power dam in no time
The diesel fuel used to provide power to Iqaluit, and actually, most of Nunavut, comes from either the USA or overseas (the middle east). This is even though Nunavut passively sits on at least 18 billion barrels of oil, that we appear unwilling to utilize.
If that is not a matter of national security and sovereignty, I do not know what is. Certainly more so than whether or not there are soldiers walking around in CadPat on the streets of Iqaluit, like Poilievre suggests.
One of the best and most cost effective options to replace this foreign oil would have been the Energy East pipeline, bringing Alberta oil to the east coast. This is another energy project that has been the victim of cost estimate hikes, and NIMBYism.
Does anyone else see the pattern here? Canada cannot quickly develop infrastructure, either to use our current energy sources, or new ones. As a result, capital investment flees, and massive amounts of time is wasted.
Iqaluit Hydro should be a no-brainer. NTI, GN, the City, anyone who is elected and has a voice should be shouting this from the rooftops, instead of standing mute and leaving it to their junior staff to carry water on this. Anyone who loses out on their personal land use from this project needs to be reminded in no uncertain terms that this is a better option than the continued assault on Inuit land use caused by Climate Change.
Canadian governments (municipal/provincial(territorial)/federal) are going to have to adopt a Can-Do attitudes pretty darn soon or we could indeed end up the 51st State.