FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – BC Hydro has submitted its second annual Site C progress report to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) covering October 2016 to December 2017.
The report highlights the awarding of major contracts, issuing of key permits, agreements with communities and Indigenous groups and also lists priorities for 2018.
Site C has been a controversial project, especially after the provincial NDP government promised a review of the project as part of its election platform. That review, which examined the project’s viability, resulted in a report issued on Nov. 1, 2017 by the BCUC. On Dec. 11, 2017 the NDP government decided to proceed with the project.
According to the recent progress report, project expenditures for the Site C project totalled $2.127 billion as of Dec. 31, 2017. That same month the project’s budget was updated to $10.7 billion, including the costs incurred to date, contingency funds and project reserves.
BC Hydro also submitted a draft amendment in December 2017 to the environmental assessment office to change the design of the generation and spillways to optimize capacity, improve safety, facilitate long-term maintenance and minimize environmental risks, the report outlines.
Due to construction challenges in 2017, the report stated, river diversion has been re-sequenced to 2020.
The second largest contract for the project was also awarded to the Aecon-Flatiron-Dragados-EBC Partnership for work on the generating station and spillways civil works.
Two impact benefits agreements have been signed with Indigenous groups, with six agreements signed in total.
Completed work includes site preparation, clearing of the north and south banks at the dam site, north bank cofferdams and a powerhouse excavation. Construction was also completed on the Site C viewpoint, the Peace River construction bridge and the worker accommodation bridge.
Upgrades were also done on 240, 269, 271 and the Old Fort roads.
Key construction in 2018 will include excavations for the north bank slope as the main civil work advances as well as continued work on the 800-metre roller-compacted concrete powerhouse buttress. Work will also begin on the earthfilled dam and the western portion of the Highway 29 realignment at Cache Creek-Bear Flat.
The report also noted all provincial and federal regulatory agencies noted environmental compliance improved throughout 2017, and cited that on average 2,133 workers were on the Site C project, 1,735 were from B.C.
“BC Hydro is committed to delivering the Site C project on time and within the revised budget,” a release from the company stated.
“Going forward, a number of improvements will be made to increase independent oversight of project performance, ensure the appropriate resources are in place to manage new and existing contractors, and enhance openness and transparency through increased project communication.”
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