The community of Dryden and its region will have an opportunity today to learn more about the second phase of the Waasigan Transmission Line, which will run from Dryden to Atikokan.
Sonny Karunakaran, Hydro One vice-president of strategic projects and partnerships, has travelled to Dryden to host an open house at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 63 to answer questions about the progress and economic benefits of the energy line.
He said the 230 kV (kilovolt) Waasigan Transmission Line plays a big part in the economic growth and development in Northwestern Ontario. Its purpose is the electrification within the region.
“The line starts at the Lakehead transformer station in the Municipality of Shuniah, and it heads in a westerly direction across to the Mackenzie station in Atikokan, and then in a northwesterly direction from there to the station in the city of Dryden,” he said, adding construction commenced in December of 2024 with the line scheduled to be in service by the end of 2027.
Karunakaran said progress during phase one is going well, and at the moment, they are constructing in the section between Shuniah and Atikokan.
“Activities that are ongoing right now involve a lot of access and clearing of the forestry areas for the transmission line right of way, as well as putting in the access roads,” he said.
“There’s been work done on foundation installation as well for the transmission towers, and that’ll continue through the project.”
Karunakaran said phase two will begin this year.
Among the benefits of bringing electricity to remote Northwestern Ontario areas, the transmission line is expected to open many business opportunities during and after the installation.
“We’ve been working on the development of this line for many years and there’s been opportunities for local businesses to participate from the start from an ancillary services perspective, to support of things like community open houses, notifications and preparations for construction,” Karunakaran said. “Now we’re in the . . . thick of construction and there’s a lot of local labour and local subcontracting works from area Indigenous communities that are participating in the construction of the project.”
He added there’s a direct economic benefit from the construction phase of the project alone.
“But beyond that, once the line is built, the enabling aspect of the transmission line to bring clean electricity into the areas and allow for further economic growth and development is really the exciting aspect for jobs and other industrial growth,” he pointed out.
Karunakaran called the Waasigan Transmission Line an “enabler” for future mining development. Once completed, he says it will play a key part in ensuring the mining of minerals happens in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.
