Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement from earlier today, I address these questions to the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. It's been three years since the NT Energy Power System Plan and the NWT Energy Action Plan called for a pre-feasibility study of the Taltson Southern Expansion, and my questions are related to that. I'd like to know where we are on that. That was three years ago, we should be three years in. I would like to ask: Does the government know what the costs are to upgrade the hydro facility to make a southern expansion economically feasible? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister responsible for NWT Power Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Power Corporation is investigating with SaskPower the potential of interconnection from Taltson to Uranium City. What's changed in the last period of time, in the last year in fact, is that Saskatchewan now is committed to reach 50 per cent renewable energy mixed by 2030. That being the case, they will need 1100 megawatts of generation. This has opened an opportunity for us and we are investigating that with SaskPower. Thank you.
I was wondering if the Minister had actual numbers as to the cost of upgrading the Taltson facility.
It depends, to some degree, on the scope of the project. There could be up to 200 megawatts from the Taltson system, which would supply about 20 per cent of the needs of Saskatchewan. I understand that the likely cost of the project would probably be over $500 million. Perhaps between that and a billion dollars.
This will be my final question. I just want to know, considering that is a pretty hefty price tag, has the government and will the government approach the federal government to seek funds to help with this expansion?
Yes, of course. The exact cost is not yet known at this time and we are contemplating a situation in which Saskatchewan would be paying a considerable portion of this. This would seem to be the type of project that the federal government would be interested in, and I think, if we move ahead further with Saskatchewan, that likely we will be approaching the federal government. Thank you.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
