Hydro One Vice President of Strategic Projects and Partnerships Sonny Karunakaran speaks during an event with media regarding the Waasigan Transmission Line in November of 2023 (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)

Hydro One has submitted its final Environmental Assessment to the province as part of the process for approval to construct the Waasigan Transmission Line, which would run from Shuniah to Atikokan before heading up to Dryden.

However, as Vice President of Strategic Projects and Partnerships, Sonny Karunakaran, explains they won’t be in a holding pattern as they wait.

“Our work is going to continue on as far as our construction readiness and planning is concerned in anticipation of the approval being provided.It’s not being presumptuous we’re very confident in the work that has been done.”

According to Karunakaran an approval is expected in the first or second quarter of 2024.

As that milestone is hit work and dialogue also continues with land owners near and on the project’s path.

Karunakaran says early access agreements for phase one of the project, between Shuniah and Atikokan, are now 90 percent in place.

“Which has allowed us to be able to get onto land, do appraisals, present offers and so forth, and we’ve had an uptake of about 40 percent of permenant land rights.”

The Independent Electricity System Operator has requested phase one be energized as close to the end of 2025 as possible with phase two, between Atikokan and Dryden, by the end of 2027.