Saskatchewan bets $26B on coal power until 2050 despite nuclear ambitions

Saskatchewan plans to extend the life of its coal-fired power plants until 2050. The decision comes with a hefty price tag of $26 billion over 25 years, as the province prepares for a future shift to nuclear energy. Officials argue the move will keep electricity reliable while avoiding higher costs from new gas plants.

The province’s electrical utility, SaskPower, will spend roughly $1 billion each year to maintain and upgrade its coal facilities. These expenses cover capital investments, daily operations, transmission upgrades, and fuel purchases.

Jeremy Harrison, the minister overseeing SaskPower, claims extending coal is the cheaper option. He argues that building new gas plants would cost even more. Meanwhile, opposition leader Carla Beck has criticised the plan, calling the $26 billion cost staggering. She suggests alternatives like natural gas plants or a small modular nuclear reactor could be more affordable. The government insists the extension will ensure stable power supplies until nuclear energy becomes viable. Coal will remain part of Saskatchewan’s energy mix until at least 2050 under the current strategy.

The $26 billion investment will fund coal operations for the next two and a half decades. SaskPower’s decision aims to balance cost and reliability while preparing for nuclear power. Critics, however, question whether cheaper energy solutions exist.