Red Chris Mine To Get Powered Up
Prince George, BC – Work is set to begin in the next few months on a project to extend the Northwest Transmission Line (NTL) to power up the Red Chris gold and copper mine, which is slated to open in the spring of 2014.
The NTL is a 287-kilovolt line that will run approximately 340-kilometres from the Skeena substation, near Terrace, to a new substation to be built near Bob Quinn Lake. The 93-kilometre extension will run from Bob Quinn Lake to a new substation at Tatogga Lake, south of Iskut. (map at right courtesy Imperial Metals)
This ‘Iskut’ extension is being built in partnership by the mine’s owner, Imperial Metals Corporation, and the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation. Imperial Metals spokesperson, Pierre Lebel, says, "We are pleased to be contributing to the construction and financing of the Iskut Extension and NTL."
"The development of the Red Chris Mine will be made possible with the more than 600 construction jobs and 300 full-time jobs," says Lebel. "This power line is seen in the North as community building infrastructure, bringing jobs and stability to a part of northern BC that has not traditionally enjoyed the benefits that so many of us in this province take for granted."
Once the Iskut Extension is complete, BC Hydro will aquire it from Imperial Metals. As part of the provincial governments agreement with the federal government for a $130-million dollar Green Infrastructure Fund contribution to the Northwest Transmission Line, the Ministry of Energy says a 16-kilometre distribution line from the new substation at Tatogga Lake will connect the community of Iskut to the electricity grid. It is currently powered by diesel generators.
"Thanks to this unique agreement," says BC Hydro CEO, Charles Reid, "We are also able to provide clean power to Iskut, allowing that community to reduce its reliance on diesel generation."
The Ministry of Energy says the Province has exempted BC Hydro’s purchase of the Iskut extension, the substations and the distribution line to serve Iskut from "a certificate of public convenience and necessity review by the British Columbia Utilities Commission" to accelerate development of the project. The ministry says, "construction of the Iskut extension will begin in the next few months, allowing Imperial Metals to meet its commitment to open the Red Chris gold and copper mine in spring 2014."
Comments
Gee no negative comments yet?….all the dippers must still be asleep.
C’mon guys “the sky is falling” “the sky is falling”
This highway 37 power project will be a mega economic generator for all of the central and northwest part of the province. It’s great, glad it is moving forward. The sky is not falling,(yet), unless we get a negative thinking government. God help us in the north if we do.
I agree giterdun. This project and this province will be royally screwed if the NDP get in….THEN the sky will fall!
So hypocritical of the dippers on this site who continually rail against these projects that create mega new high paying union jobs….
Bring it!
That hydro line will be a major bonus to the entire highway 37!
This is just the beginning!
Great Project for us, will create many Jobs and if you BC Hydro can stop your Power Smart BS you become more believable !
What a change from the early 70’s when all there was a sort of trail from Kitwanga to the Yukon border and such beautifull country. Another Banff park.
Cheers
The Red Chris mine is in NDP ridings, both provincial and federal. NDP is for sustainable and socially responsible projects. I guess this is one of them!
Kind of ironic hey gimmeabreak? You are the first one to comment on this story and your comment is negative.
I’m in shock that the enviro-dippers didn”t crawl all over this one with their negativity.
Have to believe that they are out of town..no way they could have actually converted.
Converted to what? Like I said, the NDP is pro development, as long as it is sustainable and socially responsible.
The whole area West of Vanderhoof to Kitimat, Terrace, Pr Rupert, and Highway 37 will be where the jobs are for the next 10/20 years.
Prince George will suffer as a result of this huge expansion. I would not be surprised to see a pulp mill and some sawmills in the stewart area, in addition to the mines.
While this area grows because of the development etc; Prince George will decline, because we have no new industry, and face the possibility of mill closures, because of fiber shortage, plus we have no mines.
Its interesting to see how we take so much interest in an area that is five of six hundred miles away, but totally ignore anything South of Hixon, all the way to Vancouver and the Okanogan. Why is that??
Palopu
why is that?
Because PG is the main service area for this region. Virtually anything happening in that corridor is a benefit to PG. Im not sure why you are so negative towards that fact, but its an ongoing theme from you.
Pulpmills and Sawmills in Stewart? Now I have heard every thing.
Palopu…..Guess you dont know about the Prosperity Mine west of Williams lake and the Spanish Mountain mine east of Williams Lake, as well as new gold finds in the Quesnel area. In addition there have been huge natural gas explorations done west of Quesnel.
The problems those projects all face is getting past the enviro protesters who are using every First Nation Band they can find as pawns in their anti natural resource development war.
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