The Premier of Québec, Jean Charest, accompanied by the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Claude Béchard, the Minister of Native Affairs, Pierre Corbeil, the mayor of Havre-Saint-Pierre and prefect of the Minganie RCM, Pierre Cormier, the chiefs of the Innu communities of the Moyenne-Côte-Nord and Basse-Côte-Nord, and Hydro-Québec president and CEO, Thierry Vandal, officially launched construction on the hydroelectric complex on the Romaine in Havre-Saint-Pierre today.

“Today, we are launching the biggest construction project in Canada. The Romaine complex is part of our vision for the development of hydroelectricity, a clean and renewable form of energy that is the pride of all Quebecers. This new complex will serve as a powerful lever for Québec’s economic development by helping create jobs and wealth, as well as contributing to the fight against climate change,” the premier declared.

Minister Claude Béchard stressed the importance of the project for Québec and its regions. “Construction will extend through 2020, providing jobs to workers along the Côte-Nord beginning this summer. At the height of construction, between 2012 and 2016, the project will create over 2,000 jobs per year. It will also generate significant economic spinoffs in the form of contracts and purchases of construction-related goods and services valued at some $3.5 billion across Québec, including around $1.3 billion for the Côte-Nord.”

For his part, Mr. Vandal explained that “the construction of four hydroelectric plants on the Romaine is a very good project. Construction will end in 2020, with the first power slated to come on stream in 2014. Once the project is completed, Québec will have increased its installed capacity by 1550 MW and have access to an additional 8 TWh of electricty per year.”

“Premier Charest, you have given us a wonderful opportunity to prove to ourselves that the Innu Nation is capable of great things, that there is room for everyone in the respect of who we are, and that together we are true partners in the development of the region and Québec as a whole. We will respond to your invitation with energy, intelligence, and determination,” added Chief François Bellefleur of the Innu community of Nutashkuan.

“The Romaine project is a major challenge that we will rise to meet,” declared Mayor Pierre Cormier of Havre-Saint-Pierre. We have been waiting for this for nearly 50 years. With the consensus achieved around this initiative, there is no question that we are delighted with the project.”

The project has the support of local communities, and partnership agreements have been signed with the Minganie RCM and the four Innu communities in the affected area. The agreements, which were drafted from a sustainable development perspective, are intended to secure long term benefits for the host region by fostering the economic, cultural, and social development of the host communities. In addition, they will encourage the establishment of businesses and maximize job creation through various special training programs. The agreements provide for community participation in project construction and environmental monitoring.

A joint federal-provincial review panel approved construction of the project after a rigorous and transparent environmental assessment process.

“The project meets three objectives of the Québec Energy Strategy—enhancing energy security, making greater use of energy as a lever for economic development, and giving a greater role to local and regional communities and the First Nations. The project shows that the interests of economy, the environment, and social acceptability can be harmoniously reconciled,” concluded the premier.

BACKGROUNDER

THE ROMAINE HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX

The Project at a Glance

LA ROMAINE HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX

The 1550 MW La Romaine hydroelectric complex will be situated on Rivière Romaine north of Havre-Saint-Pierre, in the Côte-Nord region. Construction of the four reservoir-powered plants and a permanent 150 km long road will cost an estimated $6.5 billion. Average annual production at the complex is anticipated to be 8 TWh, enough to power more than 450,000 households or the cities of Québec, Saguenay, and Longueuil combined.

The project—part of the Government of Québec’s Energy Strategy—will create new business opportunities abroad once completed and eventually help meet Québec’s energy needs. Project construction will run from 2009 to 2020.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SPINOFFS

Construction of the La Romaine complex will generate substantial economic spinoffs. Contracts and the purchase of related goods and services should generate $3.5 billion for Québec as a whole and $1.3 billion in the Côte-Nord region alone. Total employment on the site will average nearly 1,000 workers per year. At the height of construction between 2012 and 2016, some 2,000 workers will be on the job.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES

The La Romaine complex has undergone an extensive environmental impact study of the physical, biological, and human aspects of the project. Various attenuation and compensatory measures will be implemented to minimize the project’s environmental footprint and enable local residents to continue their pursuits in the area. The project will also be subject to a massive environmental monitoring program until 2040. The cost of studies, attenuation measures, and environmental monitoring is estimated at over $200 million.

A few examples of planned measures:

$20 million Atlantic salmon development program over 20 years

Protection of downriver in-stream flows to preserve fish habitats

Creation of spawning areas and stocking of lakes and tributaries

Telemetric monitoring of forest caribou

Recovery of merchantable timber in reservoirs and at dam sites

Replanting and reforestation of work vicinity

Development of wetlands and borrow pits, deforestation of sections of reservoir shoreline, and creation of bays to facilitate riparian habitat

Installation of launching ramps at each reservoir

Construction of a snowmobile bridge downstream from the Romaine 1 facility

PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES

The project is being carried out in partnership with local and regional communities. Partnership agreements have been concluded with the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Minganie and with the four Innu communities: Ekuanitshit, Nutashquan, Unamen Shipu, and Pakua Shipi.

The agreement with the RCM of Minganie is to support projects of an economic, recreational, social, or cultural nature within the municipality’s limits. The agreements with the Innu communities are to finance projects of an economic, community, or cultural nature as well as to foster traditional practices and encourage vocational training. These communities also took part in the local impact studies and will be closely involved in project construction and environmental monitoring.

MAIN STEPS IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS

Release of environmental impact study: winter 2008

Public hearings on the federal and provincial environmental assessment procedures: fall 2008

Release of the joint review board’s report: February 2009

Issuance of approvals and start of construction work: May 2009

STARTUP SCHEDULE

Anticipated startup schedule

Romaine-2: 2014

Romaine-1: 2016

Romaine-3: 2017

Romaine-4: 2020