This remote First Nation is using 1 generator to power the whole community — again
CBC
After dealing with a week of intermittent power outages last month, Nibinamik First Nation is having problems with its diesel generating system again.
The remote Oji-Cree community, also known as Summer Beaver, is located about 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont. About 400 people live there, according to Chief Stanley Oskineegish, and the population is growing.
A series of power outages throughout February resulted in pipes freezing in about 30 per cent of the First Nation’s homes.
On Wednesday, workers discovered the community’s main generator — a Caterpillar C27 — had experienced a mechanical failure.
“The C27 experienced a failure where bolts sheared off at the flywheel, causing damage and forcing the unit offline. This is being treated as a warranty issue. Toromont is actively sourcing the required parts, and repairs are expected to take about two weeks, depending on parts availability,” the First Nation said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Currently, the community is operating on one generator, which is stable and carrying the current load. However, as a precaution, all residents are asked to limit power usage in their homes until further notice. This will help maintain a steady and reliable power supply for everyone.”
Nibinamik has four generators in total. Now that its newer C27 is out of service, it’s using its older C27 generator to power the community and a smaller C15 as a back-up, explained band councillor Walter Oskineegish.
Community members are also working on repairs to a C18 generator; its radiator may need to be sent out for repairs.
Chief Walter Oskineegish says the First Nation desperately needs more reliable equipment, but time is running out to transport it on the seasonal winter road before spring.
“I only have a window of maybe one week, two weeks kind of thing if I need to bring in something that's heavy to help us power our community, and it's going so fast,” he told CBC News on Friday.
“That's my hope, is to have something that I can rely on.”
CBC News reached out to Indigenous Services Canada for comment on support being provided to the community and received an emailed statement on Friday.
“Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is aware of the challenges affecting Nibinamik First Nation in relation to power generation. ISC met regularly with the First Nation and partners to provide immediate supports such as generators, food, water and other supplies as requested by the community,” said spokesperson Jacinthe Goulet.
“We have been in discussions with the community about additional repair and recovery efforts, and the supports available for these efforts through ISC programming.”
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