Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Sanikiluaq (Oct 16/00) - Sanikiluaq's future is looking bright.

Almost half a year after a fire completely destroyed the community's power plant, a new plant with three new engines is almost ready to generate power for Nunavut's southernmost community.

"I'd say the plant is about 80 per cent complete right now," said Jobie Inooya, director of communications for the Nunavut Power Corporation.

"We are hoping to be testing the engines by either the last week of November or the first week of December."

The new plant is expected to cost about $5.5 million, half of which NPC is looking to recover through the insurance company.

"We've built a brand new plant from the ground up, starting with a new concrete pad," said Inooya.

The community has been running off power generated by two back-up engines that were flown into the community immediately following the April fire.

Together the two engines produce 660 kilowatts of energy. At peak load times, the community uses about 500 kilowatts.

The local plant superintendent says he would like the new plant to be ready before winter settles in so he doesn't have to ask residents to conserve energy.

"I haven't had to address the issue of asking people to conserve engery, but I only have about 100 kilowatts in reserve during peak hours," said Shawn Balfour.

"It isn't cold yet, but once winter hits people will start using more. Hopefully we'll have the new engines tested and operating before Christmas."

The three new engines will generate almost double the power that the temporary engines produce. Two will produce 350 kilowatts each and the third will produce 525 kilowatts.

NPC says the engines are an upgrade of what went up in flames and will be more cost and fuel efficient as well as require less maintenance.