In northern communities, heating oil spills are a recurring issue. Remediating contaminated land is particularly complex and costly, mainly due to remoteness and the lack of infrastructure.
To address this reality, SANEXEN and Avataani Environmental Services Inc. (Avataani) launched a major initiative in 2021: the creation of a local contaminated-soil treatment platform in the village of Puvirnituq.
This project is part of a long-term vision that combines environmental performance, regional autonomy, and circular economy principles. It also aligns with the planned decontamination of Hydro-Québec’s generating station site. The objective is clear: treat contaminated soils on-site and reuse them as backfill material, thereby reducing both costs and the environmental footprint associated with transporting soils to southern Québec.
AVATAANI has the regulatory, engineering, planning, construction, and operational expertise required to successfully carry out this type of project. After two years of discussions and collaboration with the village of Puvirnituq and the Ministry of the Environment, AVATAANI obtained the necessary authorizations to build and operate the platform, located approximately three kilometres east of the village.
Implementing this project represented a major logistical challenge in an isolated environment. The selected site was rocky, uneven, and inaccessible by road. Each phase had to be carefully planned to account for the climatic and geographic constraints specific to the North. To overcome this challenge, SANEXEN designed most of the process using modular containers. These units were transported by ship and then moved to the site using local equipment.
The work then consisted of:
• Grading and preparing the site
• Installing the containers and soil treatment equipment
• Installing a screening unit to prepare the soils
• Installing a security fence around the site
• Deploying a new power line requiring the installation of 12 utility poles, in collaboration with Hydro-Québec
This modular approach demonstrates AVATAANI’s ability to adapt its methods to northern realities and to deliver complex projects in remote environments. The experience gained in Puvirnituq would enable AVATAANI to replicate this type of project in other northern villages.
An operational platform focused on the future
The first contaminated soils were received in the fall of 2024. Since then, they have been screened and stockpiled, and the platform is now ready to operate at full capacity.
AVATAANI anticipates that the platform will be fully utilized by 2026, allowing large volumes of contaminated soil to be treated locally—soil that would otherwise have been transported to the southern part of the province. This solution delivers significant benefits:
• Reduced transportation and management costs
• Lower environmental impact related to transportation
• Valorization of treated soils through reuse
• Greater autonomy of northern communities
How AVATAANI became a key player
For more than ten years, Avataani Environmental Services Inc. (AVATAANI) has actively contributed to environmental protection and the sustainable development of northern communities. Founded in 2013, the company stems from a strategic partnership between Sanexen Environmental Services Inc. (SANEXEN) and Avata Explorations & Logistics Inc. It is proudly registered in the Nunavik Inuit Business Registry, confirming its commitment to the territory, its communities, and the local economy.
AVATAANI relies on recognized technical expertise and an in-depth understanding of northern realities to deliver solutions that are tailored, effective, and sustainable.
A comprehensive service offering adapted to northern realities
Environmental challenges in Nunavik require robust, flexible solutions that can operate under extreme conditions. AVATAANI has positioned itself as a trusted partner by offering services that cover the full environmental management cycle:
• Characterization and remediation of contaminated sites
Assessment of environmental impacts, planning, and execution of safe remediation work in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Hazardous materials management
Packaging, identification, segregation, transportation, and safe disposal of hazardous materials, in accordance with applicable standards.
• Biological treatment of contaminated soils
Design, implementation, and operation of biopiles to effectively treat hydrocarbon-contaminated soils directly on site.
• Mobile water treatment
Deployment of mobile units to treat water in remote regions where permanent infrastructure is limited.
• Spill response products and solutions
Sale of specialized products for oil spill response and the safe packaging of hazardous materials.
• Environmental permits and authorizations
Comprehensive support throughout regulatory approval processes and environmental compliance.
Today, AVATAANI operates in all 14 northern villages of Nunavik. Its clients are primarily government organizations active in the region, as well as mining companies established in the area. This sustained presence reflects the trust placed in the company and the relevance of its solutions.
A committed partner for the North
Through this project and all of its activities, AVATAANI demonstrates its commitment to being more than a service provider: a long-term partner for Nunavik communities.
By combining technical expertise, innovation, collaboration, and local engagement, AVATAANI actively contributes to the protection of northern ecosystems and to the responsible development of the territory.
SANEXEN — The environment in service of the North, today and for generations to come.
