Any project the size of the Lower Churchill Project (LCP) requires thorough planning and timely execution for success. As part of the LCP management process, the team is using a delivery method that is based on mega project lessons learned and best practices that will be followed through to project completion. The overarching execution is called the Gateway Process.
The Gateway Process is a staged or phased decision-gate assurance procedure that is used to guide the planning and execution of the LCP from identification through to operation.
Gateway Process Objectives
To provide a process to enable best value-adding potential to be captured and utilized;
To provide a mechanism for the Nalcor Energy Leadership Team to verify readiness to move from one phase to another in a systematic manner during the lifecycle of a project;
To demonstrate due diligence checks and balances are being applied during the execution of the Project; and
To provide a means to pre-define "readiness" deliverables required for a project to progress from one project phase to the next (i.e. decision gate reviews).
The process phases are managed by the Lower Churchill Project Management Team using detailed work plans and schedules while the gates, referred to as Decision Gates, are structured decision points at the end of each phase. It is a core responsibility of the Lower Churchill Project Management Team to manage the phases between the gates, in order to optimize the process.
The Decision Gates contained within the Lower Churchill Project Gateway Process are:
Gate 1 - Approval to Proceed with Concept Selection
Gate 2 - Approval of Development Scenario and to Commence Detailed Design
Gate 3 - Approval to Commence Full Construction
Gate 4 - Approval to Commence First Power Generation
Gate 5 - Approval to Commence Decommissioning
The use of formal Decision Gates facilitates decision making of the readiness of a project to move from one phase to the next, whereas the capital intensity of the phase increases. A decision must be made at each structured decision point whether to:
(a) hold further activity pending receipt of some final clarifications or supporting information is received;
(b) move into the next sequential phase; or
(c) stop/terminate all activity to proceed to the next project phase.
