Boundary Dam Power Station Life Extension

Boundary Dam Power Station (BDPS) is our largest coal generation facility. It’s located south of Estevan and opened in 1959. 

BDPS originally had 6 coal-fire units. The newest and largest is Unit 6 (BD6), which can generate 284 megawatts (MW) of power. On average, 1 MW is enough power for about 1,000 Saskatchewan homes. Units BD1 and BD2 were retired from service in 2013 and 2014. That leaves the 4 remaining units, which will be life-extended for service past 2030.

Our Progress So Far

BD4

Work on BD4 began in 2025 to bring the unit back into service on a temporary basis until more extensive future work. This included refurbishing critical equipment and ordering replacement parts for the turbine and generator. BD4 is on track to return to service by mid-2026. Full life-extension work of BD4 is planned to begin in 2032.

BD5

The last major overhaul of BD5 took place in 2019. At that time, only essential work was done to keep the unit running until its planned retirement in 2027. We’re currently working on engineering and procurement to support an initial Phase 1 of refurbishment for BD5. This work will allow BD5 to continue running reliably until 2035, when the full life extension work (Phase 2) is expected to begin.

BD6

BD6 was given its first life extension in 2003. Since then, it’s operated for over 167,000 hours and is due for a major overhaul of its turbine generator in 2030. We’re getting ready for this work by ordering important pieces of equipment that takes time to manufacture and deliver.

BD3

Life extension engineering and design work to begin in 2030.

We also need to complete life extension work on common systems, known as BD0. These systems include the ash lagoon, coal handing equipment, and water treatment plant. They support the day-to-day operation of all units at the BDPS. Planning work is already underway to expand the lagoon. Other BD0 work will occur from 2027-30.

Check out a timeline of our work at BDPS: