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Lower Mattagami Project



August 16, 2010
Close to 300 people are now working at site, and about 130 of these are from local First Nations.

This summer has been one of the driest on record in Ontario, and northeastern Ontario has been one of the driest areas. This lack of rain has resulted in low lake levels affecting recreational use of the waterways as well as reduced electricity generation. However, for construction work the weather has been ideal and work is progressing well on road upgrades, and construction.

Fred Flatt Road is the gravel road that runs from Kapuskasing to the Lower Mattagami sites. It is being upgraded to accommodate increased traffic to and from the sites. Work includes grading of the road surface and improvements to the culverts along the side of the road. Most of this work is being done by Cree- Ville Partnership. The road upgrade will proceed until the ground starts to freeze up, in the fall.

At the Little Long site work is underway to clear an area for installation of the coffer dam. The coffer dam will allow the area below the dam, where the new unit will be located, to be dewatered. With a dry construction area below the dam, work can begin next year to construct the addition to the power house where the new unit will be installed.

Construction of the temporary camp is ongoing at Smoky Falls and will house nearly 380 workers until the permanent camp is completed. Work continues on the permanent camp, workshops, and offices. CSE Morris Camps supplied the temporary camp and will be building the permanent camp which, in peak periods, will be home to about 800 people. It includes rooms for workers, a recreation room, telephone, internet and a cafeteria. The permanent camp installation will start in late September with a completion date of early spring. A medical clinic with full time staff has been open since July.

The rock excavation of the Smoky Falls Powerhouse will proceed on a two shift basis. The operation includes the drilling and blasting of rock and the excavation of overburden.

Looking ahead to September, crushing of rock for cofferdams, concrete aggregates and road surfacing will begin. As well a batch plant (for making concrete) will be constructed.

During the five years of construction approximately 600 people will work on the project annually, with a peak of over 800. In total, the project will create over 4,000 person years of direct and indirect employment.

Click on an image above to enlarge.


The Lower Mattagami project will add just under 440 MW of clean, renewable hydroelectric power to Ontario's electricity system. The project involves replacement of Smoky Falls Generating Station (G.S.) and the expansion of Little Long G.S., Harmon G.S. and Kipling G.S. on the Lower Mattagami River north of Timmins.