Official inauguration of the Romaine complex
Hydro-Québec has celebrated the official inauguration of the 1550MW Romaine Complex, marking a significant milestone in Québec's energy evolution.
The Romaine Complex boasts an annual energy output of 8 TWh, sufficient to power 470,000 households. The project, initiated in 2009 and completed in 2023, stands out for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, with a final cost of $7.4 billion, which is 14% less than the initial estimate.
Furthermore, the Romaine Complex offers a competitive reselling price of 6.4 cents per kilowatt-hour, making it a valuable asset for balancing energy production from other renewables.
The project was not without its challenges, as four workers lost their lives during construction, prompting Hydro-Québec to intensify its commitment to health and safety practices.
The completion of the Romaine Complex was made possible through the dedicated efforts of a vast workforce, along with the collaborative partnership of the Innu and Minganois communities.
“I am very proud to inaugurate the Romaine facilities, the largest hydropower complex since Baie-James, and a monument to Québec engineering. This project is essential for our energy future, allowing us to meet Québec’s industrial needs for the next 100 years!” commented François Legault, Premier of Québec. “I am especially proud that this project was carried out in partnership with the Innu nation, two great forces working together. Another source of pride is Hydro-Québec’s expertise and its standing as a global leader in hydroelectricity. Thanks to visionaries Jean Lesage, René Lévesque and Robert Bourassa, Québec chose hydroelectricity, clean energy that puts us way out in front for the energy transition. We need to capitalize on this strength to create more wealth while emitting less GHGs.”
“Investing in hydroelectricity and the electrification of our economy is crucial for meeting our decarbonization goals. La Romaine is a symbol of what Québec can accomplish when we are bold and ambitious,” added Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy
“The Romaine complex is an invaluable legacy for Québec society. It plays an important part in a major energy transition, which is at the heart of the creation of a greener economy and a more prosperous society. I would like to thanks the thousands of workers, the Indigenous communities and the Minganois for their immense contribution, their sense of innovation and collaboration,” said Michael Sabia, President and CEO, Hydro-Québec
“I salute the work of all those who endeavoured to bring this massive complex to fruition, and particularly the contribution of the Minganois and people of the Côte-Nord,” said Meggie Richard, Prefect of the MRC of Minganie. “The Romaine complex demonstrates the immense potential of the region of Minganie. In addition to the economic spinoffs during the construction phase, the MRC of Minganie recognizes the importance of the 70 permanent jobs created in connection with La Romaine in Havre-Saint-Pierre, and is proud to have participated in this major project.”
