ONTARIO POWER GENERATION
OPG and Moose Cree First Nation celebrate 10-year anniversary of Lower Mattagami hydro project

At a glance

• OPG, Moose Cree First Nation mark a decade of partnership on the Lower Mattagami hydro complex.
• Ambitious redevelopment of four stations on the Mattagami River saw six new generating units developed, adding 438 megawatts of low-carbon power for Ontario.
• Through partnership, Moose Cree community holds an equity stake in the project.

OPG and Moose Cree First Nation are marking a decade of partnership on the Lower Mattagami hydroelectric complex, which includes four stations that were redeveloped in 2015.

OPG's President and CEO, Nicolle Butcher, stands with Moose Cree First Nation Chief, Peter Wesley, during a celebration event to mark 10 years of partnership on the Lower Mattagami hydro complex.

Moose Cree representatives, including Chief Peter Wesley, welcomed OPG to their community located in northeast Ontario for a special event on June 4 to mark the milestone. With more than 100 people in attendance, the celebration included kid's activities and a community feast. Throughout the feast, remarks were shared from OPG and Moose Cree representatives who reflected on the partnership.

"We cherish and value our strong partnership with Moose Cree First Nation, and we're committed to continuing to build our relationship for the future," said Nicolle Butcher, OPG's President and CEO. "Through a decade of partnership, collaboration, and innovation, we have worked to provide clean, renewable power for Ontario, as well as important economic benefits for Moose Cree First Nation. The Lower Mattagami redevelopment was, and still remains, an important project for our province."

The Lower Mattagami Redevelopment Project involved OPG's Smoky Falls, pictured above, Little Long, Harmon, and Kipling facilities. Smoky Falls was replaced with a new three-unit station, while a third generating unit was added to each of the remaining plants.

The ambitious $2.6-billion project was completed in January 2015 and was Northern Ontario's largest hydro development in 50 years. The project involved the redevelopment of four OPG hydro stations on the Mattagami River, which added six new units and 438 megawatts of low-carbon power for Ontario enough to power about 400,000 homes.

The project helped rejuvenate the northern economy through training, employment, and more than $300 million in contracts awarded to Moose Cree businesses. As part of the Amisk-oo-Skow agreement, Moose Cree First Nation holds an equity stake in the project, providing a steady stream of revenue to help support the community for more than 90 years.

At peak construction, 1,800 people worked on the redevelopment, including more than 250 First Nation and Métis workers. The stations involved included OPG's Smoky Falls, Little Long, Harmon, and Kipling facilities. Smoky Falls was replaced with a new three-unit station, while a third generating unit was added to each of the remaining plants.

Today, as part of its Reconciliation journey, OPG continues to build its long-term relationship with Moose Cree on a foundation of trust, cooperation, and respect. The company is now working with the community to maximize job and contracting opportunities, support social and community initiatives, and protect the environment around the Moose Cree Homeland.

The Lower Mattagami project is one of several mutually beneficial equity partnerships developed to advance low-carbon power generation in Ontario. In all, OPG has forged equity partnerships with five First Nations on four clean generating projects.

These partnerships will serve as the model for potential future collaborations as OPG aims to build new low-carbon power sources, including new nuclear, to support Ontario's future growth and electrification.

Learn more about OPG's Indigenous partnerships here and follow OPG's Reconciliation Action Plan commitments and updates here.