NB power awards Mactaquac early development phase contract

Key Takeaways:

• NB Power has awarded an ECI development phase contract to the Mactaquac Improvement Partnership (FlatironDragados, Aecon, and GIP) for the Mactaquac Life Achievement Project.
• The 672-MW hydroelectric station generates 20% of New Brunswick’s peak power and 30% of its legislated renewable energy.
• The project will fix severe concrete growth (Alkali-Aggregate Reaction) and modernize major mechanical and electrical assets to extend the dam’s operating life to 2068.
• Following the 12-month collaborative planning phase, active construction is slated to begin in Q2 2027, with final completion targeted for 2039.

The Whole Story:

New Brunswick Power Corporation (NB Power) has executed an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) development phase agreement with the Mactaquac Improvement Partnership to advance the major rehabilitation of the 672-megawatt Mactaquac Generating Station. The consortium is led by FlatironDragados, alongside partners Aecon Group Inc. and Green Infrastructure Partners (GIP).

Under the 12-month development phase agreement, the partnership will work collaboratively with NB Power to refine engineering designs, map out construction schedules, and establish target pricing for the Mactaquac Life Achievement Project. The initiative is a comprehensive rehabilitation program designed to remediate concrete deterioration caused by Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR)—an expansive chemical reaction in the concrete—and extend the dam’s operational lifespan through 2068. Pending regulatory approvals and final commercial terms at the end of the ECI phase, the parties intend to transition into a full construction agreement, with heavy civil works scheduled to run from Q2 2027 through 2039.

“Canada’s future will be enhanced by resilient infrastructure that strengthens communities and supports long-term economic growth,” said Javier Sevilla, CEO of FlatironDragados. “We are proud to work alongside NB Power and our partners to rehabilitate this vital generating station to enable delivery of reliable renewable energy for decades to come.” Mirsad Hairlahovic, President of FD – Canada, added that bringing partners together early under an ECI model helps “align project objectives, reduce risk and develop solutions that maximize long-term value.”

Constructed in 1968 on the Saint John River, the Mactaquac facility supplies approximately 20 percent of New Brunswick’s peak electricity demand and generates 30 percent of the province’s mandated renewable energy. The multi-year overhaul will include extensive concrete remediation, powerhouse and spillway upgrades, replacement of heavy mechanical balance-of-plant systems, turbine and generator refurbishments, and updated fish passage infrastructure to safeguard the surrounding marine ecosystem.

The 12-year civil and mechanical overhaul will target structural remediation and asset modernization:

• Structural Remediation: Concrete repair and seepage controls across the powerhouse, spillway, sluiceways, intake, and tailrace structures to mitigate Alkali-Aggregate Reaction damage.
• Mechanical & Electrical Upgrades: Refurbishment or replacement of turbine and generator embedded parts, heavy cranes, stoplogs, and balance-of-plant mechanical networks.
• Environmental Infrastructure: Construction of enhanced fish passage facilities and environmental dam mitigation measures along the Saint John River.
• Delivery Framework: 12-month Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase to de-risk design and pricing before heavy construction starts in Q2 2027.