Dec 17 (Reuters) - Canadian utility firm Hydro One ( HRNNF )

said on Tuesday it would partner with the country's

Indigenous peoples' body, First Nations, to develop and

construct a new priority transmission line in Northeast Ontario.

Canada had said in April it was providing up to C$5 billion

($3.49 billion) in loan guarantees to help Indigenous groups

invest in natural resource projects.

The program is expected to give the groups major investment

opportunities for oil pipelines, power lines and wind and solar

projects.

Hydro One ( HRNNF ) said on Tuesday the proposed project is a new,

260-kilometre, 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, initially

energized at 230 kV between the Wawa Transformer Station (TS) in

Wawa and the Porcupine TS in Timmins, Ontario.

The company said this project, expected to be in service by

the end of 2030, is aimed at supporting the rapid increase in

electricity demand expected in northern Ontario.

($1 = 1.4309 Canadian dollars)