A partnership led by FlatironDragados has entered into a development phase agreement with New Brunswick Power Corporation (NB Power) for rehabilitation works at the 672MW Mactaquac Generating Station.
The agreement covers the first stages of the Mactaquac Life Achievement Project (MLAP), a large-scale effort aimed at extending the facility’s operational life.
Estimates for the full cost of the project, accounting for interest and inflation, are projected at between C$7.6bn ($5.4bn) and C$9bn ($6.4bn).
The Mactaquac Improvement Partnership, comprising FlatironDragados, Aecon and Green Infrastructure Partners, will work with NB Power over the next 12 months to advance the design, schedule and cost estimates for the hydropower project’s main components.
The generating station, commissioned in 1968, is said to be the second largest in NB Power’s portfolio and plays a significant role in New Brunswick’s electricity supply.
The construction phase will proceed only after the development process is completed and the required regulatory reviews and government approvals are secured. If approved, construction could start in the second quarter of 2027, with completion targeted for 2039.
The MLAP aims to address structural and equipment deterioration at the generating station, attributed largely to alkali-aggregate reaction, which has caused expansion and cracking in the concrete.
Planned works include civil, mechanical and electrical upgrades, such as rehabilitating station structures, replacing turbines and generators and making environmental and operational improvements, specifically to fish passage systems and dam mitigation measures.
FlatironDragados CEO Javier Sevilla said: “Canada's future will be enhanced by resilient infrastructure that strengthens communities and supports long-term economic growth. The Mactaquac Life Achievement Project is an investment in both.
“We are proud to work alongside NB Power and our partners to rehabilitate this vital generating station to enable delivery of reliable renewable energy for decades to come.”
The generating station provides 30% of New Brunswick’s legislated renewable energy requirements and about 20% of its peak capacity, according to NB Power.
The rehabilitation is designed to keep the plant operating through its original 100-year lifespan, extending service to 2068.
Essential preparatory and product testing work is already under way at the site as planning continues.
