Broken turbine repaired at N.W.T. Snare Lake hydro plant
Power corporation says work cost $505K, plus $1.16M for additional fuel
A broken turbine at the Northwest Territories' Snare Lake hydroelectric 140 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife plant has been repaired and started providing power again to Yellowknife and other communities in the North Slave region as of Monday afternoon, says the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
"We were able to bring this unit back online a few days ahead of schedule," said Emanuel DaRosa, the power corporation's president and CEO, in a news release Tuesday.
The repairs cost $505,000, plus $1.16 million for additional fuel during the time the broken turbine blades were repaired and some bearings were replaced, according to current estimates.
"NTPC is working closely with our shareholder, the GNWT, to minimize the impact of this event on customers and cost of living in the Territories," according to the release.
Michael Miltenberger, the minister responsible for the power corporation, told MLAs in February that the cost of the repairs could be paid out of a $20-million fund the territorial government borrowed to cover the extra cost of producing electrical power with diesel generators due to low water levels
The power corporation says a complete overhaul of the turbine unit is still scheduled for later this spring, when demand for electricity is lower. The power corporation previously said that overhaul would take between four to six months.