Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. — Bloomberg
TORONTO: Prime Minister Mark Carney will name a major electricity transmission line in British Columbia (BC) to his list of nation-building projects eligible to be fast-tracked, according to sources.
The North Coast Transmission Line, or NCTL, is a top priority for BC Premier David Eby, and is aimed at unlocking resource projects in the remote region and connecting them to sources of clean power.
The project would twin an existing transmission line running between the cities of Prince George and Terrace in northern BC, and build new branches key to developing critical mineral mines and natural gas exports.
It will be built in phases and is currently estimated to cost about C$6bil (US$4.3bil).
BC Hydro - the province-owned electricity utility - intends to start construction next year.
The Canada Infrastructure Bank has also discussed financing the project, which could be in the region of C$300mil, according to a source.
Another person said there are multiple potential buckets of CIB funding which could apply to different aspects of the project, and two people said the numbers are still in flux.
“We’re in discussions with BC Hydro on a possible investment in the project.
“We’ll have more to say when an investment decision has been made,” a spokesperson for the CIB said by phone.
Using that low-interest capital could help blunt price increases for BC residents by reducing the financial shortfall to be met by everyday rate-payers, as well as private industrial backers.
Some businesses that want the electricity can commit money now, but others are at an earlier stage of development. — Bloomberg
