Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So we are still sort of looking at the combining of those projects but of course we're cognizant that you want to have a primary source of power and you want to have a backup source of power. So, you know, the project details itself, we were looking to convert move from diesel more to gas. A part of that is reducing our emissions, of course, and so but as we move forward here with combining these two, the power plant and the LNG, we're going to be cognizant of making sure there's primary and backup sources of power. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to moving, I guess relocating the diesel plant, will all the equipment be relocated, or will there be some major upgrades to it while, you know, this process goes on because I guess it makes sense to me that if there's any major changes that have to be made, any new equipment has to be put in, now's the time. Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So right now we're looking at, and, you know, there will be an assessment done as well, but the LNG is new. We are looking at the relocation of the existing diesel power plant to higher ground, as we mentioned, to be eliminating the possibility of power in the community due to future flooding events. So that's where we're at right now. If Mr. Jenkins wants to add anything further. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So as the Minister mentioned, LNG is something new in the community, so there're new components there, of course. With the existing diesel infrastructure that is in the community, there had to be an assessment of whether there's a need to modernize that equipment. Is now the best time to do it? Is some of the equipment we have acceptable moving forward or not? Those are all things to be covered under the assessment as we scope out this project and pursue federal funding. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to go to the line diesel power plant, Infrastructure, territorial. Can the Minister just, I guess, provide me some insight into, you know, how many plants or, yeah, how many plants we're looking at and communities as well. Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So the project, the overview, the project will support NTPC in its ongoing upgrades to its diesel power plant. So there's about 26 which will focus mostly on diesel engine replacements.
Thank you. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, I look at this and I see diesel, and we talk about greenhouse gases and that. Has there been any thought, I guess, into looking at an alternate source, I guess, of fuel to for some of these, you know, smaller communities? Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, so, you know, you look at some of the projects here in the territory, and it's quite diverse. We have diesel. We have starting a wind project. We've got hydro. We've got a number of energy projects. So installing some of these new engines, we'll be able to replace the reliability of the plants, provide for some of the increased fuel efficiency, lower our greenhouse gas emissions. So, I mean, these are a number of things that we are doing and recognizing that the Northwest Territories is quite vast and geologically spaced so we do have a number of struggles and challenges that we have to heat our communities. If I can get Mr. Jenkins to speak a little further on that. Thanks.
Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So as the Minister mentioned, looking at really upgrades for these diesel power plants, and 26 of them, different communities, we are looking at different solutions, combination of renewables like wind, solar, looking at LNG conversions. But in many instances, there is a need for that diesel backup. And moving forward with some of these upgrades, as the Minister mentioned, will both improve the reliability of that backup power, whether it's backup or primary, and will increase the efficiency and lower our GHG emissions. So we are looking at different solutions, and there is a different energy mix in each community. But in some of these communities, ultimately there will be either diesel moving forward as a for the near future as the primary or as the backup, and in either situation, putting in these new engines will lower our GHG emissions. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay, I just want to go to the line item there, hydro infrastructure or no, I guess it's community hydro, two community hydro projects to generate electricity. What are the two communities that those are going in? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, some of the community hydro the update on the feasibility study was completed in June of 2022 for a proposed mini hydro project to serve Gameti confirming there appears to be sufficient water available to meet some of the community's power needs. So the community of Gameti has applied for REACHE funding for phase 2 work, which is the technical and environmental. So funding has not been confirmed. Consultations with the Gameti and Tlicho government are required to be able to determine if the project moves forward. So we are the planned work under this project for 20232024, which is in this budget, is the technical studies and planning. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Members, we're going to take a short recess.
SHORT RECESS
Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want some clarity, and in dollars, the hydro Taltson hydro expansion planning process and where it's at. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Taltson hydro expansion, our current status, technical work is underway. We have $20 million set aside by Canada to advance the project. With the regulatory submissions, so these are rare and far, but they're about 100 percent funded. The scoping of major engineering contract to develop the remaining feasibility work for the project. So you look in the budget right now, some of the planned activities for 20232024 covers activities that are related to advancing the project to a point where it's ready for construction. This includes the engineering activities, environmental regulatory activities, engagement, commercial, and some partnership discussions. Madam Chair, I do want to note that we do have a Cabinet meeting bilateral meeting in Fort Simpson next month, I believe. So I'm sure we'd be this topic will be brought up as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess one of the things I also want to talk about are the hydro infrastructure, the Power Corporation upgrades. The upgrades, could you please explain how much that is and how it entails to the Taltson hydro expansion.
Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So in terms of the overhauls, the project is in the construction phase. We did have, like any other project, some COVID19 challenges that have delayed the completion date to 20232024. So it is deferred by a year, and some of the manufacturing of the turbine and generator was delayed because of the lockdown that happened in Spain and Italy. So some items were stored in Montreal. So delays are now scheduled for the 2023 winter road, which pushes the construction to start 2023.
In terms of the Snare no, I don't think I think the Member just asked about the Taltson. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Madam Chair. As you know, I'm a great supporter of green energy, and especially of the expansion of the Taltson, and it's in the area of the center of Fort Smith and our Thebacha riding. And I guess I'm you know, I've always been a strong supporter right from time that I've come here as a new Member in this Assembly, and I still continue to support this project tremendously. I also want to make sure that we look to the future and have a full board of people from across the territories. And I know there's lots of excuses being made for keeping deputy ministers but it's you know, if you're going to be truly an entity on your own and away from government, that has to happen and I wonder when that's going to happen. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I will take that as a comment. I know it was a subject that was brought up on the floor a couple weeks ago in terms of where we're at with our NTPC government model and the review. So I will take that, and we have Cabinet here that will be making decisions as well on what we do as a government to look at the NTPC board. Thanks.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.
One of the concerns, Madam Chair, within the Fort Smith and the area that's affected with the green energy proposal is that a lot of the homes in the community and businesses are not able to hook up to the power grid as a form of green energy. So is that going to be part of the upgrades. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, developing the Taltson hydro electric system would connect ten of our communities to and 70 percent of the NWT population to one grid, also stabilize some of the costs of energy here in the territories, set a clean stage of economic growth, also improve energy security, reduce impacts on the energy system. So I think, if I can, Mr. Jenkins to elaborate a little further. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So I believe the Member is talking about residents who may be in remote areas that are unable to connect to the grid. I think that obviously there are remote power options but those types of discussions for residents in or adjacent to communities connecting to grid infrastructure are best directed to the Power Corporation on the communication between the corporation and residents as potential customers. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Thebacha.
Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. For clarity, I want to ensure that small business and other public buildings and residents of Fort Smith have the option to connect to the green energy proposal that's before us, and is that going to happen even before the expansion takes place, because we have all this excess energy that is not being used, and I'd like to have clarity on that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, that's the intent. I mean, we have a 2030 Energy Strategy that we have to meet. We have targets. We have action plans every three years we look at and, you know, determine what do we need to do within some of our energy infrastructure projects. So that is something we are looking at going forward. So I take that as a comment, and I appreciate the Member's concern that we need to be able to move to more greener energy. Thanks.
Thank you. Member for Thebacha.
I just want to thank Madam Chair, I just want to thank the Minister for her comments. I'm a big supporter of the Taltson expansion in the South Slave because it's good energy and it's going to be shared with also the residents of Yellowknife and other communities, and I look forward to a successful project. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. And I appreciate the Member's concern and support as well because that's really important as we push some of our projects going forward, to be able to get the support from the MLAs to help us work with Indigenous groups is key in being able to push these forward. And I do want to make a comment. Perhaps I didn't answer the earlier question but, you know, one of the Members mention that we did an MOU signing with one of the mines. So I mean, that's a great start going forward, to be able to work and capitalize on some of the work that we have for the Taltson. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Thebacha.
