Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Snare Hydro System is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, which is perhaps not something to celebrate, and that's approaching the end of its life and replacement costs of hydro systems are in the billions of dollars, Mr. Speaker. Not a number any of us are happy to see. I know the system is actually it's something like seven turbines at four different locations that have been built up over the years at different times. But I'm hoping the Minister can provide me with what is the end of life for any of the current infrastructure at Snare? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll just keep standing here. But it is a common practice for hydro utilities to upgrade and overhaul hydro infrastructure, to ensure we have continued operations of hydro assets in a safe and reliable manner with no foreseeable end of life date. Northwest Territories Power Corporation will continue to manage its assets, complete maintenance and overhauls to hydro infrastructure so we can extend the life of the hydro assets. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I guess I'm happy to see that there is no current end of run but I'm not sure that's exactly how dams work. I think at some point they just eventually need to be replaced. I note that we are doing a complete overhaul on the Taltson system, which is going to be shut down, and the result of that will be some more efficient turbines to get some more power out of that. Are there any overhauls planned on the Snare Hydro System? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to correct the Member to say that we have six hydro turbines that are ranging in size from 8 megawatts to 500 kilowatts. So I want to talk a little bit further because I think this is important.
Over at the Snare Rapids plant, we have completed a large an overhaul on unit number 2 back in 2022, and it's expecting to complete an overhaul on unit 1 in the next five years. Over at the Snare Falls plant, we completed an overhaul in 2017. At the Snare Cascades plant, which is owned by Tlicho and we lease it through at the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, an overhaul is expected to be completed in the next five years. And finally at our Snare Forks plant, Northwest Territories Power Corporation completed an overhaul on unit 1 in 2021, and we're expected to complete an overhaul in unit 2 in the next five years. So we are doing work at the Snare plants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's a lot of overhauls; I'm glad to hear that. I'm curious whether there is any plans to increase capacity on the Snare Hydro System or whether any of these overhauls will actually result in that? I note that about 20 percent of our power here is actually from diesel at Jackfish because of water levels and lots of different problems that occur at Snare over time to time. And there's no way that that system has capacity to open up another mine on it, allow for electrification of vehicles, or population increases. So are there any plans to increase capacity in the future on the Snare Hydro System? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to see that the Member has did his homework too, because capacity building is so important. So I'm happy that the Member raised this question with me.
There is no plan to increase at the Snare system; however, the Department of Infrastructure, which I wear my other hat on as well, is looking into updating the hydro I can't even say it. Hydrology work right across the Northwest Territories, including the North Slave region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
