Menihek Hydroelectric Generating Station Marks 70 Years
October 11, 2024
2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the Menihek Hydroelectric Generating Station.
Menihek was built by the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOCC) in 1954 to power their mining operations, located 40 km north in Schefferville, Quebec – making it the first hydroelectric plant in Labrador.
Located in a remote area on the northwestern tip of Labrador, the closest neighbouring communities are Schefferville, the autonomous Innu community of Matimekosh, the Innu reservation of Lac-John, and the Naskapi Reservation of Kawawachikamach. The generating station, two 69 kV power lines and the distribution networks in each community form an isolated electricity network, off the main North American grid.
Menihek Through the Years
While IOCC closed their Schefferville mining operations in 1982, they continued to operate the hydroelectric plant for two decades, providing power to the residents in Schefferville, Matimekosh, Lac-John and Kawawachikamach in Quebec.
Menihek isn’t accessible to the rest of our province by road. While there is one road connecting Menihek to Schefferville, Quebec, you have to take a plane, train or helicopter to reach the site from Labrador.
In 2007, through consultation with IOCC, Hydro Quebec and nearby Indigenous communities, Menihek assets and operation were turned over to Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Since then, our teams have worked to maintain the plant and assets in Labrador; Hydro-Québec is responsible for the assets that extend into Quebec. The day-to-day operations of the plant are managed by Kawawachikamach Energy Services Inc. (KESI), ensuring continued involvement of the communities that are served by this electrical system.
With three hydro turbines, Menihek is an 18.7 MW plant that generates an average of 47 GWh annually.
Looking Forward
Now 70 years old, many pieces of equipment and associated infrastructure are nearing the end of their original useful life. Over the years our teams have worked to maintain the safe, reliable operation of Menihek, but the past two years have marked the beginning of a dedicated rehabilitation project that will extend the life of the plant into the future.
As part of this commitment, the camp at Menihek was recently expanded. The original camp could accommodate 30 people at a time, but the work planned at the site will require a larger workforce. The expanded camp can accommodate 120 people and the new kitchen/dining area will ensure these folks will be able to relax and unwind after a hard day’s work.
Many of the larger projects planned as part of the plant’s rehabilitation are also well underway – including fully refurbishing all four spillway gates and re-enforcing the three dykes that make up the Menihek reservoir system (North, South and Margaret Hamilton).
These, and other proposed projects, continue to give our teams insight into the future capabilities of the plant and will ensure this history-making hydroelectric facility continues to reach its full potential.
Because of the isolated nature of this facility, getting larger equipment delivered to site can be a challenge. The original railway runs right by the plant, but, a railway siding and spur was constructed to ensure there is a safe, designated space to offload larger equipment, such as excavators, dump trucks, and eventually turbines and other maintenance equipment.
(Right): The main rail line is to the left, and the new railway siding is in the centre with the new railway spur line curving off to the right.