About The Wuskwatim

Generating Station Project

The Wuskwatim Project is a 200-megawatt daily run-of-river hydroelectric generating station being developed on the Burntwood River at Taskinigup Falls, located in the Nelson House Resource Management Area about 45 kilometres southwest of Thompson and 35 kilometres southeast of Nelson House. (Enlarge Map).

The project construction work includes an access road, construction camp for 650 workers, the dam and generating station and a transmission line to link the station to the provincial power grid. The generating station project is expected to be complete in 2011 at a cost of $1.3 billion.

The project is the result of nearly a decade of planning and studies, negotiations between Manitoba Hydro and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and an intensive environmental assessment which incorporated NCN traditional knowledge to minimize project impacts. The dam will cause less than one-half of one square kilometre of flooding.  This is the least amount of flooding of any Manitoba Hydro project in the province.

Power produced by the dam will be designated for export until Manitoba needs the energy for domestic use.

Opportunities and Benefits

Clean Renewable Energy
The Wuskwatim Generating Station will produce clean, renewable energy that will earn profits from the export market and assist in supplying domestic load in Manitoba.

Jobs
Qualified workers from Aboriginal communities close to the construction site and people from Northern Manitoba communities will be given first consideration for employment.  The Wuskwatim Generating Station is one of the province's largest construction projects and will provide almost 800 jobs over six years.

Training
Targeted training opportunities have also been in place since 2003 to ensure NCN members and other aboriginal people have the skills they need to take advantage of project opportunities.

Contracts
Manitoba Hydro is providing management and construction services to WPLP. It offers Manitoba businesses the opportunity to bid on contracts consistent with its commitment to work with suppliers through the Buy Manitoba and Northern Purchasing programs.