Ístak’s Nukissiorfiit project for the Greenland Electricity Company has begun at Sisimiut!

Ístak will over the next three years be building a 15 Mw hydro electric power plant at Sisimiut. When the plant will be completed in May 2010, it will electrify the second largest urban area in Western Greenland with about 6000 inhabitants. The plant will replace diesel driven generators that produce all the electricity used today.

The project:
Ístak is responsible for complete design and construction of the plant, including supply of all equipment such as turbines, sluice gates, electrical equipment, pylons and high voltage lines as well as running the plant for 5 years after start of electricity production.
The large lake Taserssuaq will be utilised by running the outlet through a 5 km long blasted tunnel, running to two turbines that will be placed in an underground cavern at the bottom of the so called “Second” fjord. The used elevation difference is about 80 meters. From the turbines the water will be discharged into the fjord below sea level. Near the entrance of the station approach tunnel, a building will be erected. In there will be accommodation facilities for the plant service personnel, as well as an equipment store and a small workshop. Between the plant and Sisimiut, pylons for a 27 km long high voltage line will be erected. At the end of the high voltage line at Sisimiut, a transformer yard will be built for connecting the plant to the town’s electrical system.

Transport:
Road transport between the plant area and Sisimiut is not possible. All transport of personnel and equipment will be by sea over about 23 nautical miles. During the winter, limited transportation will however be possible by light vehicles on snow and ice.

Work elements and program:
The first task at the plant site will be setting up camp with accommodation and a canteen for about 80 people. A large part of the project will be the blasting for tunnels and caverns. Work on this part will start in the autumn of 2007 and continue through the winter 2007-2008. Concrete work in the turbine hall will start in spring of 2008. The tunnelling should be finished at year end 2008, except blasting the last plug into Taserssuaq, which is estimated to be done in late summer 2009. Access track and pylon foundation construction is planned for summer of 2008, but during summer of 2009 all mechanical and electrical equipment, as well as pylons and high voltage lines will be completed.

Preparation:
Pre- and construction design is being carried out by engineers, employed by Ístak Iceland
Various equipment and camp units have been transported to Sisimiut and are waiting to be moved to site.