Prime Minister François Legault inaugurated the Romaine hydroelectric complex on Thursday, highlighting the merits of this energy production to meet the needs of Quebec in the coming years.
During the ceremony held at the Romaine-1 power station, Mr. Legault affirmed that hydroelectric production remains the best choice, once improved energy efficiency is considered.
“Wind power is intermittent so it’s not enough,” he said. So the heart of our choice, the best choice is hydroelectricity. »
The Minister of Economy and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, for his part recalled that Quebec’s energy needs will require the development of new means of production, such as biomass, solar and wind power.
“There is nothing better than hydroelectric dams,” he stressed.
Currently at 200 terawatt-hours (TWh), Hydro-Québec’s capacity will almost have to be doubled. The latest estimates placed the needs at more than 150 additional TWh.
Mr. Legault expressed the desire to resume the construction of large dams like the one on the Romaine. Quebec must first agree with Newfoundland and Labrador on the renewal of the Churchill Falls supply contract, which expires in 2041.
Hydro-Québec is particularly studying the development potential of the Petit-Mécatina river on the North Shore.
On Thursday, Mr. Legault said that the new president and CEO of Hydro-Québec, Michael Sabia, will soon submit an update of the state-owned company’s strategic plan.
“Afterwards we will have to debate this in Quebec, can we do more for the green economy? » declared the Prime Minister.
Mr. Legault affirmed that it is not always easy to launch projects of the scale of the one built on the Romaine.
“When we launch major projects there are always negative reactions,” he said. There is never a project that is perfect. »
Bravo to Charest
Construction of the four power plants that make up the Romaine complex began in 2009, on the North Shore. The total cost of the work amounts to 7.4 billion dollars, or 14% more than the budget of 6.5 billion initially planned. A transmission line was also built at a cost of 1.3 billion.
The work was scheduled to be completed in 2020, but the pandemic and health and safety issues caused additional delays and costs.
Each of the four power plants is made up of two turbine-alternators powered by the flow of the Romaine River, which flows into the St. Lawrence River east of Havre-Saint-Pierre.
With its installed capacity of 1,550 MW, the complex produces 8 TWh per year, which is equivalent to the capacity to supply 470,000 residences. The cost price of electricity produced at Romaine is 6.4 cents per kWh.
Four workers lost their lives during the 14 years that the project lasted.
The inauguration of the installation took place in the presence of former Prime Minister Jean Charest, who launched the work in 2009.
François Legault stressed that the choice of hydroelectricity gives Quebec a head start in the fight against climate change. He praised the decisions taken by his predecessors Jean Lesage, René Lévesque and Robert Bourassa, whom he described as “great builders”.
Mr. Legault began his speech by greeting Mr. Charest, seated in the front rows.
“It’s not easy to launch major projects in Quebec, so I say it in front of everyone, bravo, bravo,” he told her.
In 2009, the Quebec Liberal Party itself crowned Mr. Charest in its own pantheon of great builders.
Mr. Legault made the trip to Romaine in the context where Hydro-Québec must increase its production to meet increased demand.
More details will follow