Site C Groundbreaking Event

Posted on April 18, 2017 8:11 am

On April 3rd IBEW local 993 attended the ground breaking ceremony at the Site C dam project in Fort Saint John with the BC Building trades and Paul Strangway from the CLRA. BC Hydro representative, Dave Conway, facilitated the site tour.

This marks the beginning of mobilization of Voith Hydro at the project. Voith will be building a manufacturing facility to build the draft tubes, runners, and generators onsite with B.C. Building Trades. The manufacturing process will use both conventional and robotic welding techniques, cutting edge electrical technology and create 400 person years of work. A 5 KM conveyor will also be constructed to facilitate the main structure with impervious core, gravel, and surface rock materials. Construction of temporary power lines and batch plant are ongoing.

Voith CEO, Bill Malus, attended explaining that with the companies 150 years experience the 6 generators and turbines will be engineered and built by the best of the best in the trades and will serve Canadians for generations to come.

The project will further aid the reduction of our reliance on coal and fossil fuels in Canada.

Minister of Education, Mike Bernier, also attended stating that of the 2000 workers onsite 81% are BC workers. This phase of the project is expected to increase local hires as well.