BC Hydro has chosen the Peace River Hydro Partners consortium for the Site C main civil works, which includes the construction of an earthfill dam, two diversion tunnels and a concrete foundation for the generating station and spillways.
Approximately 32 million cubic metres of excavation will be required for structures, including the approach channel and tailrace. River diversion works will involve construction of two 10.8m-diameter concrete-lined tunnels between 700m and 800m in length and associated cofferdams and intake and outlet structures.
The earthfill dam will be a central core zoned earth embankment approximately 1,050m long and 60m above the present river level. There will be roller-compacted concrete buttress, approximately 800m in length to a maximum height of 70m.
BC Hydro issued a request for qualifications in April 2014 and shortlisted four proponent teams to provide proposals for the main civil works contract. BC Hydro received proposals from all four teams in October 2015. A contract is expected to be awarded by early 2016. The proposal by Peace River Hydro Partners is within the budget established by BC Hydro, and is included in the CA$8.335bn cost estimate for Site C.
Work under the contract is expected to create approximately 8,000 person-years of employment over the eight-year construction period, along with business opportunities for local, regional and Aboriginal businesses. Approximately 1,500 people will be working on main civil works at the peak of construction.
Other other upcoming major construction contracts at Site C include: turbines and generators, generating station and spillways, highway realignment and substation and transmission lines.
Once built, Site C will provide enough electricity to power the equivalent of about 450,000 homes per year.
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