Engineering and construction company SNC-Lavalin has won a $587m contract to design and build the Waneta Expansion, a 335MW hydroelectric power facility on the Pend d'Oreille River just south of Trail, British Columbia.
The scope of the contract includes engineering, design and construction of the facility, the supply, installation and commissioning of two turbine-generator units, all balance of plant equipment and power transformers, and a 230kV gas insulated switchgear building for the power plant.
Engineering and construction work is already underway and the new facility is expected to go into commercial operation in 2015.
The power project is being undertaken through a limited partnership of Fortis, Columbia Power Corporation (CPC) and Columbia Basin Trust (CBT).
Fortis, CPC and CBT concluded definitive agreements this month to construct the Waneta expansion at an estimated total cost of approximately $900m.