KEBAOWEK, JANUARY 14, 2025 – Over the past few months, Onimiki Renewable Energy L.P.’s community hydroelectric project in Témiscamingue has continued to develop. Recent changes have been brought to the project to ensure it is well integrated into its host environment.
Onimiki North
The underground intake pipe for the Onimiki North power station will avoid the Parc national d’Opémican. The preliminary plan presented in March 2024 called for a short section of the underground pipe to pass under the park. This scenario raised questions and concerns during information and discussion meetings.
An alternative route was developed in response to the concerns. The planned 2.9-kilometre underground intake pipe would now be located outside the boundaries of Parc national d’Opémican.
Discussions were held with the property owners at McMartin Point to present the project and hear their concerns. Discussions will continue in 2025 with the property owners to hear their feedback and improve the project.
The 60-megawatt Onimiki North power plant would be located on the shores of Lake Témiscamingue, about 30 kilometers north of Témiscaming and 15 kilometers southwest of Laniel.
Onimiki South
For the Onimiki South power station, located in Témiscaming, two options were on the table for the development of the power station: reuse the old Kipawa power station building, decommissioned in the early 1970s, or construct a new building about 1 km north of the old power station.
The reuse of the old Kipawa power station is now the primary option. This would give the building a new lease of life, highlighting the local heritage and reducing costs. An underground intake pipe 30 meters deep would also be built between the existing Lumsden dam and the power station. The piping route is still under development, but the aim is to limit the impact on Témiscaming residents.
Discussions have been held with the Town of Témiscaming and others are planned with the community and its members to continue to ensure the project’s harmonious integration into its host environment.
Next consultation steps
2024 has been a busy year for Onimiki Renewable Energy. A summary of the year is available on our website onimiki.ca.
Over the past few months, experts commissioned by Onimiki Renewable Energy have conducted additional field inventory campaigns to gather the data required for the project’s design and the impact study.
The information and consultation process continued with targeted meetings. A working group on the Kipawa River is to be set up with a mandate to analyze the project’s various impacts to the waterways and make recommendations to ensure their sustainable management. Local organizations have been approached in recent months to take part in the working group.
A new series of targeted public meetings will also be held in spring 2025 to inform and exchange views with the public and organizations interested in the project.
“The Onimiki project is still in the development phase. It is constantly being improved as information and consultation meetings are held. It’s important to take the time needed to do things right and propose a responsible project defined in concert with the communities of Témiscamingue,” says David McLaren, President of Onimiki Renewable Energy.
The impact study should be submitted in fall 2025.
About Onimiki Renewable Energy L.P.
Onimiki Renewable Energy L.P. is a limited partnership formed to develop the Temiscamingue hydroelectric power project. The project will be developed on a 100% community basis, meaning that all revenues will be shared by public partners. The limited partnership is made up of four partners: Kebaowek First Nation, Wolf Lake First Nation, the MRC de Témiscamingue and Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan.
Showcase photo: The building of the former Kipawa power plant, decommissioned in the 1970s, is to be refurbished to accommodate the Onimiki Sud power plant (Photo: courtesy).