Manitoba Hydro Evaluates Plan to Expand Power and Broadband in Nunavut

Manitoba Hydro is assessing a formal application to extend its transmission grid and fibre-optic cable approximately 1,200 kilometres to communities in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. This significant infrastructure development aims to deliver up to 150 megawatts of renewable electricity while also providing high-speed broadband connectivity for the first time in Canada’s Arctic.

The proposed project will connect five communities: Arviat, Whale Cove, Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet, and Baker Lake. According to Nukik Corp., which is leading the initiative, the project is designed to create a reliable power and communications backbone essential for northern industries and community development.

In April 2023, Wab Kinew, the Premier of Manitoba, and P.J. Akeeagok, Nunavut’s then-premier, signed a joint statement to advocate for an energy corridor to Canada’s North. Kinew directed Manitoba Hydro to prepare for supplying Nunavut with 50 megawatts of hydroelectric power that is no longer being exported to the United States, contingent upon the construction of a federally funded transmission line.

The collaborative effort between the governments of Manitoba and Nunavut calls for federal support to back the Inuit-led energy corridor and associated hydroelectric upgrades. The agreement highlights the commitment of both provinces to work alongside First Nations in the region to ensure their involvement in the project while preserving the land and water for the long-term health of the caribou population, vital for the Inuit, Dene, and Cree communities.

As of now, the federal government has allocated nearly $10 million to support the project’s development phase, which encompasses necessary engineering, design, and environmental assessments. The timeline for the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link outlines that construction is expected to commence in 2028 and be completed by 2032. While the total cost of the project has yet to be disclosed, it aims to replace costly and polluting diesel generation with reliable renewable energy.

This initiative also seeks to enhance high-speed internet access by bringing fibre-optic cables to remote communities and strategically important mineral regions. In a news release, Nukik emphasized the project’s potential to strengthen Arctic resilience and bolster Canada’s sovereignty.

The transmission service request submitted to Manitoba Hydro marks the beginning of a comprehensive evaluation process to secure access to the province’s transmission grid. This application will initiate detailed technical and commercial studies that will assess how clean energy can effectively be transmitted from Manitoba into Nunavut.

Nukik recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Arctic electricity developer in North America to receive certification from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, one of the major regional transmission organizations in the United States. This recognition places the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link within an established continental transmission framework, enhancing the project’s technical credibility.

Manitoba Hydro is expected to release further comments regarding the application and its capacity to supply 150 megawatts of clean energy to Nunavut as local demand for electricity continues to rise. The successful implementation of this project would mark a pivotal step in improving energy access and connectivity for the communities in the Kivalliq region, fostering economic growth and sustainability in Canada’s North.