BC Hydro has awarded the last big construction contract for the Site C dam on the Peace River to German-based engineering company Voith Hydro.

The $470 million contract is to design, build, deliver and install six massive vertical water turbines and generators for the third dam on the Peace River in northeastern B.C. With a budget of $8.3 billion, the Site C dam is the most expensive construction project in B.C. history and is expected to be the last large dam built in the province.

Premier Christy Clark, Energy Minister Bill Bennett and BC Hydro CEO Jessica McDonald announced the contract award at a ceremony at the B.C. legislature with representatives of Voith, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and heavy industrial unions.

Unlike the open shop rule for the rest of the project, the powerhouse is covered by a project labour agreement with building trades unions.

[Video of dam and turbine operation here.]