“This granting of megawatts is not eternal, so we are currently thinking about how long these energy blocks are offered and we will decide on this question.”
QUEBEC — The Legault government is threatening to withdraw Northvolt’s energy block after a certain period of time if its EV battery plant project does not move forward.
The Liberals are criticizing the Coalition Avenir Québec for granting an energy block to the multinational without setting a deadline, while refusing electricity supplies to other Quebec companies that want to decarbonize.
“Has none of you thought about making an exit clause, to say: if the energy blocks are not used, we will take them back?” Liberal MNA Marwah Rizqy said during question period Tuesday.
“This granting of megawatts is not eternal, so we are currently thinking about how long these energy blocks are offered and we will decide on this question, namely whether we set a limit and if so, how long?” declared the new energy and economy minister, Christine Fréchette.
However, Fréchette added that the company has been reassuring about its rationalization efforts, which she believes would not affect the realization of the project in Quebec.
The mega-factory project, straddling St-Basile-le-Grand and McMasterville, is expected to cost $7 billion.