An Indigenous construction and fabrication company has been selected to conduct a review for the proposed pumped storage project in Meaford.
The selected company Makwa-Cahill LP, which works in the energy sector, was chosen by TC Energy to undergo a constructability and fabrication review of the inlet/outlet structure of TC Energy’s proposed project.
The 1,000-megawatt Ontario Pumped Storage Project is a multi-billion dollar private sector investment that would create about 1,000 jobs over the next eight years during development and construction.
The facility would involve pumping water from Georgian Bay to a higher elevation reservoir during periods of low demand for electricity, and then releasing the water back through turbines to generate electricity when power demand is higher.
Earlier this year Meaford council was brought a presentation to allow for the development of a proposed pumped storage facility at the Canadian Armed Forces 4th Canadian Division Training Centre.
Makwa-Cahill is a partnership between the Cahill Group, one of the a larger multi-disciplinary construction and fabrication companies in Canada, and the Makwa Development Corporation, according to a release. Makwa is owned by the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation members Scott Lee and Shane Chegahno.
President of Makwa Developments and Director on the Makwa-Cahill board Scott Lee says, “as an independent privately owned business made up of people who live in the area and use Georgian Bay, this work is especially important to us, and we are confident that this collaboration and design process will result in minimizing impacts to Georgian Bay’s aquatic environment.”
The release says the Makwa-Cahill contractor engagement will allow it to draw on its technical expertise and fabrication practises to support the construction and fabrication efforts throughout the proposed pumped storage project’s life cycle.
TC Energy Project Director John Mikkelsen adds this partnership is representative of the plan to activate local employment and suppliers.
“We are committed to leveraging local expertise and knowledge by working and partnering with those, such as Makwa-Cahill, who possess in-depth knowledge of the region and communities, and we will continue to seek opportunities to do so throughout this project,” says Mikkelsen.
