Conawapa Generating Station
The Conawapa Generating Station would be the largest hydro-electric project ever built in northern Manitoba. It would add 1485-megawatts to the hydroelectric system at a site on the Lower Nelson River, 28 kilometres downstream of the Limestone Generating Station and 90 kilometres downstream of Gillam. Conawapa will require no significant water storage upstream and will cause limited flooding, approximately 5 sq. km, of land almost entirely within the natural banks of the Nelson River.
Manitoba Hydro's resource plan indicates a requirement for Conawapa in 2021 to meet domestic load, with the majority of the power available for export until needed by Manitobans.
The earliest possible in-service date is 2023. Construction would take 8 to 8.5 years after receiving all regulatory approvals and licenses. The estimated in-service cost of the generating station is $5 billion. The generating station is expected to create an estimated 13,000 person years of direct and indirect employment over the 8 to 8.5 year period. No final Conawapa development, design or construction decisions have been made.
The Conawapa project will be located within the Fox Lake Resource Management Area. The provincial government and Manitoba Hydro have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Fox Lake related to the Conawapa project.
