Released on March 1, 2005
SaskPower and Babcock & Wilcox Canada (B&W Canada) today announced they have renewed their long-term agreement to work together on major projects involving SaskPower's coal-fired power generating boilers at SaskPower's three coal generation facilities.The renewal is for 10 years and will result in significant manufacturing work at B&W's Melville facility over the period of the agreement. Over its 10-year timeframe, this alliance will facilitate work at Shand and Boundary Dam Power Stations at Estevan and at Poplar River Power Station near Coronach. Since the original agreement was signed, B&W Canada has successfully executed all the major boiler upgrades at SaskPower's coal-fired generating stations.
"This announcement means continued jobs for skilled Saskatchewan tradespeople and an economic plus for the Melville, Estevan and Coronach regions," Minister responsible for SaskPower Frank Quennell said. "SaskPower and B&W Canada have established an excellent working relationship over the past decade, building the capacity and expertise to do this specialized work right here in the province."
"Maximizing Saskatchewan content in these projects by utilizing B&W Canada's Melville facility has created a win-win arrangement for both the company and the province of Saskatchewan," Babcock & Wilcox Canada President Richard Reimels said. "The renewal of the agreement and the continued support of our Melville fabrication facility, have been the cornerstones of our business strategy in Western Canada and in our plans to sustain a viable business in Melville."
SaskPower operates 15 generating facilities with an installed capacity of approximately 3050 MW, including three coal-fired thermal stations, seven hydro stations, four natural gas peaking stations and the Cypress Wind Power Facility. Additional information can be found at www.saskpower.com
B&W Canada serves North American electric utility and industrial markets and the global nuclear utility market. Based in Cambridge, Ontario, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Babcock & Wilcox Company in Barberton, Ohio, which is an operating unit of McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR). The Babcock & Wilcox Company is located on the Internet at www.babcock.com.
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For More Information, Contact:
| Larry Christie SaskPower Regina Phone: (306) 536-2886 Email: 1-888-536-0000 | Yvette Amor B&W Canada Cambridge, ON Phone: (519) 621-2120 Email: ext. 2416 |