(Quebec) At a time when he wants to see dam projects push forward in Quebec, François Legault will cut the ribbon on Thursday to inaugurate the Romaine hydroelectric megacomplex on the North Shore.
The Prime Minister will thus mark the end of the impressive 7.4 billion project, which took place over more than 14 years, in the company of the new big boss of Hydro-Québec, Michael Sabia, and the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon. This is the first public event bringing together the three men since the arrival of Mr. Sabia at the head of the state company in August.
Former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Charest, who broke ground in May 2009, will also participate in the ceremony organized at the Romaine-1 power plant. The Minister responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, and the Minister responsible for the North Shore, Kateri Champagne Jourdain, will also be on site, in addition to regional dignitaries.
The inauguration of the Romaine complex – the largest hydroelectric facility in service since James Bay – is of particular importance for the Legault government, which has placed the energy transition at the heart of its second mandate. François Legault sees the creation of the hydroelectric megacomplex as inspiration for his aims.
In September, Mr. Legault also took advantage of several forums to reiterate his desire to launch new major works. During an HEC Montreal event on September 15, the Prime Minister even invited Quebecers to “prepare” themselves to see dam projects multiply.
“We haven’t done a lot of major work at Hydro-Québec in the last 25 years,” said Mr. Legault. But prepare yourself. Michael [Sabia] works very, very hard. There are going to be a lot of announcements for dams, upgrading dams, wind power. »
Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon must also present this fall an important part of the government’s strategy with the tabling of his expected bill on Hydro-Québec and the Régie de l’énergie. The legislative text aims to review the framework for the development of clean energy. It will notably discuss the acceleration of wind projects and the revision of Hydro-Québec rates for businesses.
To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Quebec will need more than 100 additional terawatt hours (TWh) of energy – which is equivalent to 50% of Hydro-Québec’s current production. François Legault himself mentioned a volume of up to 150 TWh.
The level of anticipated needs will be clarified in the coming months by Michael Sabia, who must present an “update” of the forecasts made by his predecessor Sophie Brochu. The state company’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan estimated needs at 100 TWh.
For the moment, Hydro-Québec is studying a new structure on the Petit Mécatina river, also on the North Shore.
Located north of Havre-Saint-Pierre – a municipality located some 215 kilometers east of Sept-Îles – the Romaine complex is a project that will have given Hydro-Québec a hard time.
The very last of the complex’s four power plants, Romaine-4, entered production in September 2022, two years late, in particular due to the instability of the rock which forced the interruption of operations on more than one occasion. construction work.
The site was also paralyzed in 2010 by workers from the North Shore dissatisfied with regional hiring. Innu from Uashat mak Mani-utenam, in Sept-Îles, also blocked Route 138 in March 2012 to protest work on their ancestral lands.
The initial bill for the project was also revised upwards, from 6.5 to 7.4 billion. Added to this are costs of 1.3 billion for the construction of the transmission line for the connection.
Four men died during the work, the worst death toll for a Hydro-Québec project in the last 20 years.
March 2009Green light from the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE)
May 2009Kick-off of the project by former Prime Minister Jean Charest
December 2014Commissioning of Romaine-2, the most powerful of the four power plants (640 MW)
November 2015Commissioning of Romaine-1
December 2016 Death of a fourth man
January 2017Major health and safety overhaul
October 2017Inauguration of Romaine-3 in the presence of former Prime Minister Philippe Couillard
September 2022Commissioning of the Romaine-4
