Churchill Falls (Labrador)

Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation built the Churchill Falls hydro plant on the Churchill River in Labrador. Construction ran from 1966 to 1974: dikes made the Smallwood Reservoir and an underground powerhouse. First units transmitted in December 1971. In May 1969 CFLCo signed a long-term contract to sell most of the power to Hydro-Québec at a fixed price.

The plant turned Labrador water into electricity that could only reach markets by crossing Quebec. More than 30,000 people worked on the site.

Why it mattered

The plant was built to turn Labrador water power into electricity that could only reach markets by crossing Quebec. The 1969 contract sold about 31 billion kilowatt-hours a year to Hydro-Québec for 40 years, with an automatic 25-year renewal. Canadian Encyclopedia figures put construction cost at $950 million and employment during the works at more than 30,000.

Now

CFLCo still owns and runs the station. Newfoundland bought BRINCO’s control in 1974. Ownership remains 65.8 percent Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and 34.2 percent Hydro-Québec. The 1969 contract still runs to 2041; a 2026 agreement is meant to replace it.

Still operating · Now: Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited (NL Hydro 65.8% / Hydro-Québec 34.2%)