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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.
Click Here to View Construction Update Videos
Concrete Placement
As of August 31, 2011, all major concrete pours have been completed at the Wuskwatim Generating Station. There has been approximately 120,336 cubic metres of concrete poured in all of the structures. The breakdown of concrete is as follows:
- Spillway –11,150 cubic metres.
- Service Bay – 16,050 cubic metres.
- Intake – 29,000 cubic metres.
- Powerhouse – 34,200 cubic metres.
- Tailrace – 19,075 cubic metres.
- South Transition – 2,800 cubic metres.
- Miscellaneous Structures – 8,061 cubic metres.
Stage II River Diversion and Forebay Impoundment
The River Management is divided into:
- 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.
- Stage II Diversion where the entire river flow is diverted through the completed Spillway by removing a portion of the Stage I Upstream Cofferdam and the construction of the Stage II Cofferdams across the Upstream Powerhouse and across Taskinigup Falls, which allows for the continued construction of the concrete structures and the construction of the Main Dam in-the-dry.
On October 31, 2011 the spillway gates were slowly lowered, reducing the flow rate through the Spillway channel causing the water to backup and rise in the forebay area. The three spillway gates were adjusted on a daily basis to ensure the increase rate of the water elevation was within the maximum of 0.5 metres per day. After three days of impoundment, spillway gate # 3 was completely lowered to a closed position. The remaining two spillway gates remained slightly open and adjusted until the forebay water elevation reached 234.000 m above sea level on November 16, 2011.
The last activity associated with the Stage II Diversion and forebay impoundment is the removal of the rock plug at the upstream end of the Wuskwatim Falls channel. The rock plug removal will be completed after it has been confirmed that the concrete and earth fill structures are performing satisfactorily. The rock plug is expected to be removed in 2012.
All cofferdams (the Stage II Upstream Power House and Stage II Downstream Cofferdams) are now completely removed from the Burntwood River. The river flows now pass entirely through the spillway.
Main Dam
The General Civil Contractor (GCC) has now completed the Main Dam, placing over 145,000 cubic metres of the impervious, granular and rock fill materials.
Service Bay / Intake / Powerhouse
The Service Bay / Intake / Powerhouse building structures (precast wall panels, metal cladding and roofing) are now complete with the exception of some miscellaneous work items.
Turbines and Generators
The rotors for Units 1 & 3 have been completely built and installed. Assembly of the Unit 2 rotor is currently ongoing in the Service Bay and is expected to be completed in February of 2012.
Installation of the non-embedded turbine components in Unit 1 is 99% complete and the generator is complete as well. Remaining deficiencies to be corrected.
Installation of major turbine components in Unit 2 is about 70% complete. Work is progressing on the installation of operating ring and wicket gate links and levers.
In Unit 3, 90% of the non-embedded turbine components have been installed. Work is progressing on installation and alignment of the shaft seal and bearing housings. The generator is 90% complete.
Intake Guides, Gates, and Hoists
Installation and dry commissioning of Units 1, 2 and 3 intake guides, gates and hoists was completed in June. The contractor will return in early 2012 to complete the remaining minor deficiencies.
Electrical and Mechanical
The Electrical and Mechanical contractor continues to focus on the systems required for the 230kV and Unit 1 commissioning milestones. The electrical craft continue to focus on pulling, glanding, and terminating power, control and instrumentation cable. The Isolated Phase Bus installation for all three units is nearly complete but requires some final testing and adjustment to deal with issues discovered during the testing of Units 1 and 3.
Both of the125 Vdc battery banks are installed, along with associated chargers, inverters and distribution equipment. A significant amount of the cabling for this system is complete and commissioning activities on the system continue. Commissioning work on the 600 Vac system has also begun, and will continue for some time, due to the size of the system.
Work is well underway by Manitoba Hydro’s Communications Department in outfitting the Communications room. Fibre Optic terminations are nearing completion.
The installation of the fire alarm continues. The mechanical trades are continuing to focus on the compressed air and shaft seal systems, while the fire standpipe system is ongoing when time permits. The cleaning and testing activities for the piping systems will be ongoing for the remainder of the piping installation.
Powerhouse Crane
The Powerhouse Crane is in use and is being thoroughly inspected on a
monthly basis to ensure it can withstand the demands of the construction
work.
Elevators
Installation of both the Service Bay and Powerhouse elevators is near completion. Final testing and commissioning will take place late this year.
Construction Camp
The main construction camp has been in operation since 2008. Included in the camp facilities are single-room bunkhouse accommodations for over 700 workers. All support facilities are operational, including the kitchen diner, a fire hall equipped with a fire truck, water treatment plant and sewage lagoon. The Recreation Centre provides free access for all workers to a full-size gymnasium, racquetball courts, weight and exercise room, pool tables, TV and internet rooms. As well, a commissary is in operation for personal purchases and staff are on hand to organize sports activities, bonfires and team events.
The camp area also has a chapel that doubles as a training facility, a restaurant/lounge and a sports field for baseball and soccer. An outdoor ice rink was constructed each of the last two winters to provide additional recreation activities. 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 designed and built in January 2009 by NCN members. All of the Cultural activities are managed and provided by NCN.
Since the majority of the concrete has been placed, the camp population continues to decrease. As a result, some bunkhouses may potentially be demobilized in early 2012.
Wuskwatim Access Road
The Wuskwatim access road provides year-round, all-weather access to the construction site. Approximately 2.2 million cubic metres of granular material was 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. Year round maintenance is provided by NCN/Sodexo staff.
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 I Upstream and Downstream Cofferdams were completed.
Final rock excavation for the Tailrace is now complete.
Intake channel excavation is complete with the exception of some minor rock excavation that is under the Powerhouse Cofferdam. Remaining falls channel improvement is scheduled for 2012.
Transmission Project
Construction of the collector lines from the Wuskwatim generating station to the Wuskwatim switching station is now complete, and final commissioning of these transmission lines will occur once the generation station is operational. Static Var Compensator (SVC) commissioning at the Birchtree station was completed in August, however there are some outstanding issues that the design consultant will be responsible to resolve. These issues will not prevent the SVC from being put in service.
With the collector line construction now complete, all that remains is the final commissioning of the lines and all of the Wuskwatim Transmission Complex projects will be in service.
Current Employment Statistics
As at End of November 2011
- 364 project employees
- Approximately 27 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
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