Hydropower and Industrial Development - why We FAIL when Others SUCCEED

 Please take the time to read this short article below published by Economy Watch and the commentary following regarding Hydro-Quebec and your MHA's.

Hydropower development and economic progress are closely interlinked. The development of hydropower in Norway propelled its industrial and economic development.


A staggering 19% of the total global energy production is derived from hydropower, which refers to the process of generating electricity by using water. The five countries that account for more than half of the world’s hydropower production are Brazil, Canada, China, Russia and the US.

Experts acknowledge the striking correlation between hydropower development and a country’s economic development. Norway, one of Europe’s poorest countries a century ago, is today a highly industrialized, self-reliant and wealthy nation. Nearly 99% of Norway’s electricity supply comes from the electricity generated by its hydropower plants, which have a total capacity of 27,000 MW. The development of hydropower in Norway is believed to have propelled growth, economic development and overall expansion. The country’s current expansion efforts focus on moving from technical excellence in hydropower to capacity building. 

On March 14, 2008, the Norwegian government proposed measures to gain public control of the country’s hydropower production plants and assets to ensure that hydropower concessions that are granted to other private companies will revert back to the state itself on expiry of the concessions. This will enable public ownership of hydropower assets in Norway in perpetuity.



Norway as you know is also a major oil and gas producer - almost all of which they export. See more below.


Norway is the world's sixth-largest oil exporter and second-largest gas exporter (2010), providing much of western Europe's crude oil and gas requirements. In 2009, Norwegian oil and gas exports accounted for approximately 50% of total exports. In addition, offshore exploration and production have stimulated onshore economic activities. In 2009, over 27% of state revenues were generated from the petroleum industry; taxes and direct ownership ensure high revenues. Foreign companies, including many American ones, participate actively in the petroleum sector. The oil industry directly employs roughly 40,000 people in core extraction activities. Over 250,000 are employed in petroleum-related activities.

Newfoundland and Labrador has over 10% of the national production yet - where is the industrial development. It has been exported to outside the province for industrial development primarily to Quebec. In that province Hydro-Quebec plays a key role in the industrial development, job creation, and societal advancement - whereas in Newfoundland and Labrador people like Ed Martin are incapable or have no interest in such things. Every morning Thierry Vandel CEO of Hydro-Quebec eats competition like Ed Martin CEO for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - for breakfast. There is no comparison!

Quebec governments have a vision for their people and a vision of industrial development and superiority in the marketplace. By comparison - most of our MHA's do not know if hydropower is fit to eat - so they ship it out to let somebody else try it. That is why we cannot compete or deal with Hydro-Quebec. Political naivety by developing power for business not society as a whole and by not employing the best minds we have to negotiate and develop such tremendous resources. Kathy Dunderdale spends plenty of time selling this Legacy of Shame project to the corporate world and no time selling it to us - the owners.

Next post - the aluminum embarassment - and the price Labradorians have had to pay. Stay tuned.