The Minister of Economy and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, raised the possibility of having to double electricity production capacity by 2050 by creating more partnerships with private companies, during a meeting with trade unions. ‘Hydro-Québec which took place last week. They say they are worried about the possible shift towards the private sector in the energy sector.
On September 5, during a meeting with union representatives of Hydro-Québec employees, Mr. Fitzgibbon declared that he wanted to increase Quebec’s electricity production “up to 200 terawatt hours [TWh] “, has learned The duty. Such capacity would double what the state-owned company can currently produce.
This objective of 200 TWh represents an increase compared to previous forecasts. In March 2022, Hydro-Québec’s strategic plan already mentioned considering adding “more than 100 additional TWh of clean electricity” to the network so that Quebec achieves carbon neutrality.
In December 2022, the Minister of the Economy and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, revised these forecasts upwards. He then suggested that new electricity needs could reach up to 150 TWh.
During the electoral campaign, the Prime Minister, François Legault, for his part declared that he wanted to relaunch the construction of hydroelectric dams to meet energy demand. In fact, as early as 2027, Hydro-Québec could encounter supply problems during severe cold weather. Hydro-Québec is currently studying the potential of the Petit Mécatina river, located on the North Shore.
Union concerns
“In terms of production, in addition to the major works which would remain under the aegis of Hydro-Québec, Mr. Fitzgibbon wants to practically double electricity production in Quebec thanks to private partnerships”, we can read in an internal correspondence that sent the Union of Specialists and Professionals of Hydro-Québec (SSPHQ), one of the six unions present during last week’s meeting.
The communication also mentions an increase in targets for energy efficiency. It is written that Mr Fitzgibbon would now like to achieve “by all means” a target of 25 TWh, “whereas it was 8 TWh until very recently”.
In another correspondence – this time sent jointly by the six unions which participated in the meeting with Minister Fitzgibbon – we mention a meeting which mainly focused on the government’s intentions concerning the energy transition and on the efficiency of public companies by compared to private companies.
“We have clearly expressed our concern about the crumbling of the current Hydro-Québec model and the fact that the share of production carried out by the private company continues to grow,” it is written.
The unions claim to have “sent a strong signal to the minister” regarding their desire to “continue the fight to nationalize all of Quebec’s electricity production facilities”.
The minister also confirmed, during this meeting, the tabling of a bill, “as early as this fall”. The objective: “modernize” the supervision of electricity production in the province.
“This mega-bill will facilitate the privatization of energy production methods and their diversification by creating favorable conditions for new energy sectors,” the unions deplore with one voice.
Minister Fitzgibbon did not wish to comment on the remarks made during the meeting with the unions.
“The new president of Hydro-Québec will have to present his action plan to respond to the growth in energy demand in the coming months,” the minister’s office indicated by email, specifying that “several countries in the world must drastically increase their production of electricity and clean energy to meet the challenges of decarbonization and the fight against climate change.”
“Colossal efforts”
Significantly increasing production capacity in Quebec is possible, “but it would require colossal efforts in investment and social acceptability,” indicates Pierre-Olivier Pineau, professor in the Department of Decision Sciences at HEC Montréal and holder of the Chair of Management of energy sector.
“Wind, solar and nuclear are, in my opinion, the sectors that would be best able to produce these additional 200 TWh,” says the specialist.
Already, in recent weeks, the state company has confirmed that it is evaluating the possibility of reopening the Gentilly-2 nuclear power plant, in Bécancour, in Centre-du-Québec, to meet the growing demand for energy. In the coming years.
“There could be scenarios where Quebec would be a more favorable territory than elsewhere for producing energy […]. But it is not necessarily necessary to produce as much and we must above all explain why and what the alternatives are,” he emphasizes.