In a news release the Minister Responsible for SaskPower said a now completed refurbishment project at the E.B. Campbell Hydroelectric Station means it will continue to generate power for at least another 50 years. .

Jeremy Harrison said, “This will allow SaskPower to continue to access up to 294 megawatts (MW) of hydro power at a fraction of the cost of building a new facility.”

The $275-million, multi-year project began in 2021 and included upgrades to turbines, generators and intake systems, allowing the station to produce more power from the same amount of water. SaskPower says building a new hydroelectric facility of the same capacity would cost approximately $4 billion according to current estimates.

SaskPower President and CEO Rupen Pandya said, “The project also delivered economic benefits, including approximately $13.7 million in Indigenous and local employment and procurement opportunities.”

The E.B. Campbell hydroelectric facility began operating on the Saskatchewan River northeast of Nipawin in 1963 and generates power for up to 250,000 homes.