The Atikamekw community of Opitciwan reached a historic milestone on August 28, 2024, with the official launch of construction on its forest biomass cogeneration plant.
This innovative $70 million project promises to transform the energy and economic landscape of the isolated community.
The 4.8 MW plant will use forest biomass residues produced by the local sawmill to generate electricity. This initiative perfectly illustrates the concept of a circular economy, leveraging local resources while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Jean-Claude Mequish, Chief of the Opitciwan Atikamekw Council, emphasized the project's importance: "This is an investment in the future of our families and children."
Significant Economic and Social Benefits
The expected benefits of this project are considerable:
- Estimated economic returns of $28 million over 25 years
- Creation of direct and indirect jobs
- Strengthening the sustainability of the Opitciwan sawmill
- Funding for local infrastructure and development projects
Multi-level Partnership
The realization of this ambitious project was made possible through close collaboration between various stakeholders:
- The Opitciwan Atikamekw Council (CAO)
- Onimiskiw Opitciwan Limited Partnership (SCOO)
- Government of Canada ($16.57 million)
- Government of Quebec ($19.9 million)
- Hydro-Québec (25-year supply contract)
The new Opitciwan biomass plant will play a crucial role in improving residents' lives by stabilizing energy supply and limiting service interruptions and inconveniences related to diesel use. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the project will also decrease road truck traffic while replacing diesel generators with a renewable energy source. This will significantly lower the community's carbon footprint.
Denis Clary, President of SCOO, expressed the community's enthusiasm: "All members of the Opitciwan community are excited to see tangible results. This is a turning point for the future of our community."
The plant's commissioning, scheduled for autumn 2026, will mark the beginning of a new era for Opitciwan, combining economic development, energy autonomy, and environmental respect. This exemplary project could serve as a model for other isolated Indigenous communities seeking to strengthen their energy autonomy while contributing to the fight against climate change.
Grégoire Lemay, Director, Société en commandite Onimiskiw Opitciwan, Marie-Louise Tardif, MNA for Laviolette-Saint-Maurice, Coalition Avenir Québec, France Wong, Senior Director, Marketing, Customer Experience and Brand, Hydro-Québec, Ian Lafrenière, Minister responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Government of Quebec, Jean-Claude Mequish, Chief, Opitciwan Atikamekw Council, Ghislain Picard, Chief, Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, Denis Clary, President, Société en commandite Onimiskiw Opitciwan and Paul Michaud, CPA, Director of Finance and Administration, Société en commandite Onimiskiw Opitciwan.
