We’re developing a plan to continue operating about 1,500 megawatts (MW) of coal-fired power generation beyond 2030. This will help meet Saskatchewan’s power needs as we prepare for nuclear power in the future.
To do this, we’re taking a staged approach to extend the operating lives of 7 coal-fire units at our 3 coal power stations:
This work began in 2025. We expect all units to be fully life-extended by 2036.
Why Are We Extending Coal Operations?
Coal power stations produce a consistent and reliable supply of baseload power. They run at any time of day and in any season. Today, about 23% of Saskatchewan’s power comes from coal.
Saskatchewan is a large province with a wide range of weather and power needs. No single power source can meet all those needs on its own. That’s why we rely on a mix of power sources, such as coal, hydro, natural gas, wind, solar, battery storage, hydro, and in the future, nuclear. Using a mix helps keep power reliable and affordable now and into the future.
In October 2025, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan. This plan supports using an all-of-the-above approach to power supply options.How Are We Doing It?
Each unit’s life-extension work will happen over 5 key stages:
The first step is to assess the condition of all 7 units, and the common systems that support them. We’re looking at how much operating life each part has left and what work is needed to keep everything running safely and reliably for many more years.
This review includes major systems and equipment:
- Boilers and steam systems
- Turbine generators
- Electrical equipment and controls
- Coal handling equipment
- Other support systems (such as ash lagoons, water treatment plants)
Where needed, we’ll replace or refurbish old equipment and install new components. This is a major undertaking that involves around 100 workers to complete the assessments over many years.
During the Construction and Commissioning stages, each unit will need to be offline so we can safely complete construction and commissioning activities. This means they temporarily won’t be adding power to the grid. Outage periods will vary by unit. For planning purposes, we’re allowing for up to 9 months for each one.
Our Progress So Far
Once our assessments are complete, we’ll have a better understanding of the overall costs and timelines to life-extend each unit. Right now, we expect life-extension work to take about 5 years for each unit. That includes planning, engineering and construction.
We’ve currently completed assessments for 3 of the 7 units. We’re on track to complete the rest by mid-2027.
We’re in the process of evaluating and selecting proposals for an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) firm for life-extension work in each coal facility. We’ll be taking the same process for a General Contractor (GC). The EPCM will be focused on detailed design, planning and overseeing overall construction management. The GC will be responsible for procuring and delivering construction services.
Learn more about each of the power stations we’re working on:
View the map of all our projects underway.
