Engineering and construction group SNC-Lavalin has signed 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, in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The project mandate, which 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 230 kV gas insulated switchgear (GIS) building for the new power facility, will require extensive environmental management plans, including special measures for the protection of sturgeon.
Engineering and construction work is already underway and the new facility is expected to go into commercial operation in spring 2015. The project – which is being undertaken through a limited partnership of Fortis Inc, Columbia Power Corporation (CPC) and Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) – will be booked in SNC-Lavalin’s backlog during the fourth quarter.
“We have been involved in all three expansion projects in the region; the 185MW Arrow Lakes Generating Station, the 120 MW Brilliant Expansion Project and now the Waneta Expansion Project,” said Patrick Lamarre, Executive Vice-President, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. “We are excited to continue our relationship with CPC and CBT and look forward to working with Fortis Inc. and to further expand our existing hydro expertise in British Columbia as part of our green energy plan.”