New power plant for Pangnirtung, Nunavut, 2 years after fire destroyed original

Pangnirtung, Nunavut, has a power plant again after fire destroyed the original two years ago, causing a community-wide power outageand a month-longstate of emergency.

The Qulliq Energy Corp. officiallycommissioned the new plant with community members Monday, the company said in a statement.

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The plant includes three fuel generator sets with upgraded measures to protect against fire and technology to reduce emissions.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the residents of Pangnirtung for their immense support and patience while Qulliq built a replacement plant from the ground up," said Johnny Mike, the minister responsible for the power corporation.

The community of approximately 1,600 people only had partial power for a four-day period after a fire destroyed its nearly 40-year-old plant in April 2015.

A state of emergency in the hamlet lasted for a month before four generators were delivered as an interim measure.

• Pangnirtung's state of emergency lifted after four days