Canada's federal government has given final approval to Hydro Québec's C$4B (US$3.47B) Eastmain 1-A and Rupert diversion hydro power scheme in northern Québec.
The company’s plan, already approved by Québec’s Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, is to build 893MW of hydroelectric generating capacity on the Eastman river.
It will involve adding a 769MW generating station, known as the Eastmain 1A power house, to the Eastmain river. As well as this, up to 70% of the flow from the Rupert river is to be diverted into the Eastmain watershed, which will increase the annual energy output of the scheme by 8500GWh.
The project is part of Hydro Québec’s wider plan to exploit the large hydroelectric potential of northern Quebec to both satisfy the internal demand and increase exports to Ontario and the northeastern US. It is expected to be commissioned in 2010-11.