[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
dam-l Rupert River diversion update
Will the Rupert estuary and Crees be sold down the river by
new Hydro-Quebec project? Frankly HQ's offer to affected Cree communities
looks pretty insideous to me.
Here is a precis I just did of an article from the Cree Nation magazine,
"The Nation" on the Eastmain-Rupert project. When you're reading
this, remember that alterations of greater than 25 to 30 % of freshwater
flow to the coast bust the delta-estuary-coastal ecosystem through a cascade
effect that takes place over time, owing to changes in salinity and other
factors.
-Dianne
Precis:
source, Nov. 20, 1998, pg 5 The Nation,
"Growing push for deal on hydro project"
***************************************************
Hydro-Quebec is proposing a 1,280 megawatt hydroelectric project
on the Eastmain and Rupert rivers. The utility wants to divert
the Rupert into the Eastmain and build a 624-sq. km. reservoir.
Approximately 90% of the flow of the Rupert River would be cut at the
diversion point. Downstream, the HQ's estimates say flow would be cut by
50%.
Hydro has been holding meetings with Cree leaders in an attempt to
persuade the Cree communities to back the $2.2- 3 billion project
with their own money, for a cut of the profits.
Grand Chief Coon-Come wants to hold a general assembly of the Cree Nation
concerning the offer early next year, however that idea may be scuttled as
the chiefs of affected communities have made it known that they don't want
Grand Council of the Crees involved. If the chiefs proceed rapidly,
there may not be enough time to hold a general assembly.
Hydro-Quebec remains unavailable for comment.
It is unclear from what internal source any Cree funds for
the project would come from. It is unknown if the affected
communities' chiefs have commissioned a qualified economic analyst
for an independant review of the feasibility of HQ's offer.
What is clear is that power from the "EM-1" project would be sold
in perpetuity by Hydro-Quebec at a fixed price: 2.2 to 2.4 cents
per kilowatt-hour. This is almost or more than half the amount
Quebec consumers pay [4.5 cents per kilowatt-hour] or the 15 plus
cents per hour the Americans pay during peak consumption periods.
According to The Nation's sources on HQ's offer to the Cree communities,
the power "[cannot] be sold to any other buyer for a different price".
The low price guarantees profits will also be low. According to The Nation,
"The deal may be worth less than $200,000 a year to Crees, in exchange for
a $20 million dollar investment, for example... Hydro-Quebec... stands to
make lots of money on the project, because the Eastmain and Rupert waters
will be flowing not only through the EM-1 turbines but also through [La
Grande projects 1 and 2]."
This means HQ will be able to resell the power within Quebec and elsewhhere
for a lot more. How much more? Hydro-Quebec isn't talking.
-Dianne Murray