SASKPOWER SALUTES SASKATOON SUPPLIER

Released on December 5, 2001

A long-time SaskPower supplier is being recognized for providing superior

products and service to the Crown corporation.



Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. is a recipient of a 2001 SaskPower Power

of Business award. The award was introduced in 1999 to recognize the

important role local firms play in the corporation's success and the

Saskatchewan economy.



Hitachi is the 10th firm to be honoured with a Power of Business award

since it was created in 1999.



Crown Investments Corporation Minister Maynard Sonntag presented the award

to Hitachi Canadian Industry's president Hiroshi Yamaguchi at the company's

manufacturing facility in Saskatoon.



"SaskPower makes every effort to support local Saskatchewan businesses,"

Sonntag said. "Over the last 20 years, Hitachi has provided the

corporation with excellent products and service at an excellent price."



"Local businesses like ours get a boost from the contracts we have with

SaskPower," Yamaguchi said. "These contracts mean we can continue to

maintain our workforce, expand our operations and contribute to the local

economy. SaskPower has always been a leader when it comes to recognizing

the ability of local suppliers to provide products and services that can

compete with any other company in the marketplace."



Hitachi established its North American power generation component

manufacturing headquarters in Saskatoon in 1988 with 30 employees. The

company supplies SaskPower with a wide variety of technical and field

services as well as manufactured parts. With over 340 workers at its

Saskatoon facility, Hitachi is assembling six H25 gas turbines as part of

the $140 million upgrade to the Queen Elizabeth Power Station. In 2001,

Hitachi and SaskPower signed a 10-year, $20 million maintenance agreement

for the turbines. Hitachi was subsequently named the North American

Service Centre for the gas turbines last year.



SaskPower buys, on average, more than 80 per cent of its purchases from

local firms. Over the last 15 years, the corporation has purchased over

$3.2 billion in goods and services from Saskatchewan.



-30-



For more information, call:



Larry Christie Pat Pitka

SaskPower Hitachi

Phone: (306) 566-3167 Phone: (306) 242-9222 Ext. 215

Toll-free: 1-888-536-0000 Saskatoon