Northwest Transmission Line begins service in 2013

The Northwest Transmission Line, which will bring power to number of potential mines in British Columbia, will be in service by the end of 2013.

Rohan Soulby, Director, Export Transmission Development for Powerex, provided an update on the project during a Thursday luncheon with the Vancouver, BC Branch of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

Soulby said that the line will be able to do 300,000 kW when it comes into service. With further upgrades, he said the ultimate capacity of the transmission line will be north of 400,000 kW.

The line has been given approval to go as far as Bob Quinn Lake.

“We do understand the potential that exists beyond Bob Quinn as far as Dease Lake. We are in active discussion with the government,” said Soulby.

There are about 10 potential mines near the electricity corridor.

Image from BC Hydro. Click to enlarge.