After just three years in office, Sophie Brochu will leave the helm of Hydro-Québec in April. The CEO’s decision was announced Tuesday morning by press release.
“I am deeply grateful to have had the chance to work for the advancement of our great state-owned company, alongside a competent and committed team,” said the main interested party in a press release. head of the public company in April 2020, in the midst of a pandemic.
The reason for his departure is not specified. “The time has come to pass the torch,” she said, noting that Hydro-Québec is now in “good shape” and that “the company’s financial situation is excellent.”
The relationship between Ms. Brochu and the Government of Quebec had proved stormy in recent months. In October, she said she did not want the province to turn into a low-cost energy “Dollarama” for foreign companies. Rather than looking for new customers, his priority was to achieve the decarbonization of Quebec.
According to information from The Press published at the time, Ms. Brochu would not have hesitated to leave Hydro-Québec if the Crown corporation found itself subordinated to the imperatives of economic development in Québec. At the same time, the Quebec government wants to make the province the “green battery” of North America and talks about building new hydroelectric dams.
“As long as the governance framework within the Hydro-Québec government is sound and we are able to assert the major prerogatives of the energy system’s needs, I will be there,” Ms. Brochu declared in October at the 98.5 FM. But if, for one reason or another, I saw that this system was at risk, well, I would have serious discussions with my shareholder. »
Following this controversy, at the end of October, Prime Minister Legault had created a new “committee on the economy and the energy transition” in order to coordinate government action in this regard. A group of ministers are part of it, including Pierre Fitzgibbon (Economy, Innovation and Energy), as well as Ms. Brochu.
“Thank you, Sophie Brochu, declared Mr. Fitzgibbon Tuesday morning, following the announcement of the departure of the CEO. You are a natural and dynamic leader, an inspiration for many. Thank you for your contribution to the public sector. I am certain that you will continue to influence and pave the way for many decision makers of tomorrow. »
In an internal letter sent to Hydro-Québec employees, obtained by The duty, Ms. Brochu specifies that “in terms of energy transition, the possibilities available to Quebecers are numerous. It will all be a matter of choice. »
Without explicitly mentioning the major production projects that Hydro-Québec will have to launch to increase its capacity – an increase of 100 TWh by 2050, according to estimates by the state-owned company – Ms. Brochu writes that it will be necessary to work “ together with the communities concerned” to assess the potential “of the sites which present the best potential for hydroelectric development”.
She adds that she has seen a “renewed interest in discussing” the use of electricity and the future of our Crown corporation. “Regardless of viewpoints, this conversation is healthy and necessary. »
Before heading Hydro-Québec, Ms. Brochu worked at Énergir (formerly Gaz Métro), the main gas distributor in Quebec. She was the big boss from 2007 until the end of 2019.
Further details will follow.