News & Information

Over the anticipated six-year construction period of the Wuskwatim project, WPLP will be posting information about the project including progress reports and news materials. 

Access to relevant information prior to the June 2006 project approval and commencement of construction is also available. 

Check the links to find specific information you're looking for.

Background Information

Construction of the Wuskwatim Project commenced in August 2006. If you want pre-construction information please refer to the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation's website, which has comprehensive information on the negotiations leading up to the signing of the Wuskwatim Project Agreement, or Manitoba Hydro, which has comprehensive information on the environmental reports and other historical information on hydroelectric development in northern Manitoba.

Current Project Status

Construction Videos

• Wuskwatim Construction Update 2008-2009 Video – CREE VERSION
(Size 40 MB)

• Wuskwatim Construction Update 2008-2009 Video (Size 40 MB)

• Wuskwatim Construction Update 2006-2008 Video (Size 17 MB)

• Wuskwatim Construction Update 2006-2008 Video - CREE VERSION
(Size 17 MB)

• Construction Activities August-October, 2008 Video (Size 4.2 MB)

Concrete Placement

As of June 17, 2010, there have been approximately 83,100 cubic metres of concrete placed in all of the structures. This is approximately 70% of the total quantity and consists of:

• Spillway –10,500 cubic metres. All concrete has been placed to
  complete this structure.
  
• Service Bay – 16,300 cubic metres
• Intake – 16,100 cubic metres
  
• Powerhouse – 24,350 cubic metres
• Tailrace – 10,400 cubic metres
  
• Miscellaneous Structures – 5,450 cubic metres
  

The Service Bay and Powerhouse are enclosed to protect the overhead crane and other sensitive operations from the elements. The temporary enclosure over the Tailrace has been removed as the concrete has progressed beyond the limits of the hoarding.

Turbine Generators

The installation of the Turbine Generators continues with the concrete embedment of the Draft Tube Liner, and the installation of the Stay Ring and Turbine Pit Liner in Unit 1. In Unit 3 the draft Tube Liner has been assembled and aligned with the concrete embedment. The Unit 3 Stay Ring has been assembled on the Service Bay floor and will be moved into place after the completion of the concrete works on the Draft Tube Liner.

Stage II River Diversion

The River Management is currently in Stage I Diversion with the Upstream Stage I Cofferdam diverting the water over Taskinigup Falls, which allows the concrete structures to be constructed in the dry.

After the Spillway structure and gates are completed, the project will be ready to start Stage II Diversion. In this process a Stage II Cofferdam is constructed across Taskinigup Falls and a portion of the Stage I Upstream Cofferdam is removed to allow the entire flow of the Burntwood River to pass through the Spillway. Once the water is flowing through the Spillway the Main Dam can be constructed, in the dry, behind the Stage II Cofferdam.

The preliminary work has started for the activities required for Stage II River Diversion with the excavation of rock from the Spillway and Intake Channels and the placement of fill materials for the Stage II Upstream Powerhouse Cofferdam.

Powerhouse Crane
In November 2009, Phase 1 of the Powerhouse Crane installation was competed in the Service Bay of the generating station. Phase 1 consisted of lifting and assembling the main girder, auxiliary girder and trolley on the crane rail some 35 ft above the service bay floor. This installation took approximately four days to complete and at 275 metric tons, put Wuskwatim atop of the list for the single largest overhead crane in Manitoba Hydro's fleet.

Phase 2 installation and final commissioning of the Powerhouse Crane started on March 1, 2010 and was completed by the end of March. The overhead crane will play a key role in the construction of the generating station and the installation of its three - 66 MW turbine generators.

Construction Camp
The main construction camp is complete, including single-room bunkhouse accommodation for over 700 workers. All support facilities are operational, including the water treatment plant and sewage lagoon. The completed Recreation Centre has free access for all workers to a full-size gymnasium, racquetball courts, weight and exercise room, pool tables, TV and internet rooms.

The camp area also has a chapel / training facility, a restaurant / lounge and a sports field for baseball and soccer. Hiking / cross-country ski trails are being developed. There are cross-cultural training sessions, cultural ceremonies and counseling services available to all employees. Most of the cultural activities take place in the Cross Cultural Centre, which was completed in January 2009. All of the Cultural activities are managed and provided by NCN.

Wuskwatim Access Road
Approximately 2.2 million cubic metres of granular material has been excavated and placed on the 48 km access road that runs from Provincial Road 391 southward to the station site on the Burntwood River, 45 km southwest of Thompson. The road provides year-round, all-weather access to the construction site and year round maintenance is provided.

Structures Excavation

Excavation for the principal structures commenced in December 2007 and was completed in February 2009. The work was done in two phases. Phase 1 in winter 2007 / spring 2008 included the removal of approximately 650,000 cubic metres of overlying soil and bedrock. Phase 2 had a further 525,000 cubic metres of bedrock removed during the summer and winter of 2008 from the areas of the principal structures and channels. Total excavations to date are approximately 1,178,000 cubic metres of overlying soil and bedrock materials. In parallel with excavation, the construction of stage 1 upstream and downstream cofferdams were completed.

Transmission Project

Construction of the transmission line from Birchtree to Wuskwatim has been completed. Construction of the transmission lines from Wuskwatim to Herblet Lake and clearing of right-of-way for the transmission line from Herblet Lake to Ralls Island was completed in March. Line construction is underway and will take place over two winter seasons, and finish by April 2011. Design and material procurement has commenced for the collector lines from the Wuskwatim Generating Station to Wuskwatim Switching Station.

The control buildings at Birchtree and Wuskwatim switching stations have
been installed. Installation of electrical apparatus is underway at Thompson Birchtree Station, Wuskwatim Switching Station, Herblet Lake Station and Ralls Island Station. This work is expected to be completed by summer of 2010. The transmission project is on schedule and will be completed by summer of 2011.

Current Employment Statistics

As at End of May 2010

• 968 project employees
• Approximately 26 percent Aboriginal

Current project employees represent those actively working at site, on rotational leave from site, and currently on hiring recall as per Article 12.4.2 of the BNA.

For more employment detail please click here