Cliff Heating Plant update - #3

November 16, 2009

Concerted efforts to restore the Cliff Heating and Cooling Plant capacity as safely and quickly as possible, as well as to ensure the comfort of building occupants in the interim, are showing results. Significant progress has been made in the installation of new temporary boilers at the Gatineau Plant and at a temporary site adjacent to the Cliff Plant.

At the Gatineau Plant, Phase 1 is complete; three new temporary boilers have been installed and are operational. Phase 2 is underway; four additional temporary boilers are being installed and are expected to be operational by November 20.

At the temporary site adjacent to the Cliff Plant, four supplementary boilers have been delivered and installation is in progress. We expect these boilers to be operational by mid-December. They will become the primary source of heat for all buildings on the Cliff Plant distribution system. At that point the boilers at the Gatineau Plant will be used as back up for the Cliff Plant boilers.

All buildings on the Cliff Plant distribution system are currently receiving steam. PWGSC is continuing its investigation and cooperating with the Ontario Fire Marshall, Technical Standards & Safety Authority, Ministry of Labour, Human Resources & Skills Development Canada (Labour) and departmental health and safety committee. The boiler involved in the October 19 explosion remains in place in the Cliff Plant and will do so until the authorities have completed their investigations.

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For more information, contact:

Public Works and Government Services Canada
Media Relations
819-956-2315