Hatch affiliate wins hydro assignment

Hatch affiliated company KGS Acres has been retained by Manitoba Hydro to undertake planning studies and final designs for four hydroelectric developments with a combined capacity of more than 2,400 MW.

One of these projects is the Keeyask generating station, with an estimated capital cost in excess of $3 billion. It will be located on the Nelson River in northern Manitoba. The Nelson River drains a huge watershed that reaches to the Alberta/British Columbia border in the west, to within 19 km of Lake Superior to the east and into South Dakota. Of note is that Manitoba Hydro has recently signed a project development agreement with four local First Nations communities, and will provide them with an opportunity to become partners in the development, with the potential for up to 25% equity participation.

KGS Acres is contributing to preparations for upcoming regulatory licensing hearings, while work on final designs for certain aspects of the station is about to begin, with an anticipated start of construction in 2012 and an in-service-date of 2017. The Keeyask powerhouse will have an installed capacity of 695 MW, developed from seven generating units and an operating head of 19 m. The seven-bay spillway will be designed to pass the probable maximum flood of 11,300 m³/s. The principal structures will require the placement of a total of 360,000 m³ of concrete. In addition to the concrete structures, a series of earthfill dams and dikes with a total length of 25 km and a fill volume of 4,300,000 m³ will be used to confine the reservoir and limit the extent of flooding.

Because the site is isolated, 130 km by road from the nearest service community, one of the early assignments on the project has been the preparation of conceptual designs for approximately 35 km of access roads, along with a construction camp and associated infrastructure required to house the workers.

For further information, please contact Jim Smith: JSmith@kgsacres.com