Community leaders, members and other project and public officials gathered October 18 for a ceremonial ground breaking of the Gitchi Animki Hydroelectric Project, a 50-50 joint venture of subsidiary companies of the Pic Mobert First Nation and Regional Power Inc.
Currently, Regional Power operates eight hydro plants with a total generating capacity of 56 megawatts. The company is also expected to complete the construction of its 34 MW Long Lake project before the end of the year.
“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 Councilor 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’ flow regulation dam that helps to control 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 were among the first contracted under the Ontario Power Authority’s Feed in Tariff Program.
Financing for the project has been provided by Manulife Financial. The project has also benefitted 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.”
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.
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.