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 operating 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 25% 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 wind, solar, natural gas, battery storage, hydro, nuclear and coal. 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?
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.
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.
Each unit’s life-extension work will happen over 5 key stages:
*Each unit will need to be offline during the Construction and Commissioning stages so we can safely complete construction and commissioning activities.
Learn more about each of the power stations we’re working on:
