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The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. (Photo courtesy of Ontario Power Generation)
The Ontario government has approved Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) plan to proceed with the Project Definition Phase, the next step toward refurbishing Pickering Nuclear Generating Station’s “B” units to secure more power and create thousands of jobs across the province.
As part of the preparation for refurbishment, the government has authorized OPG to sign a $2.1 billion contract with CanAtom, a joint venture of Aecon and AtkinsRéalis, for early engineering and procurement to prepare for the execution of the Retube Feeder and Boiler Replacement Program. The project is expected to create more than 2,400 jobs across the province.
“The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station has powered cities and towns across Ontario with affordable, reliable and zero-emissions electricity for more than 50 years,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “This refurbishment would… provide the affordable and reliable power our province will need for decades to come.”
Once refurbished, Pickering is expected to produce more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, equivalent to powering two million homes, to help meet increasing demand, driven by electrification and the province’s economic growth. Based on OPG’s preliminary schedule, the refurbishment is anticipated to be completed by the mid-2030s.
The Conference Board of Canada projects the full refurbishment project would create 11,000 jobs per year while contributing $19.4 billion to Ontario’s GDP over 11 years.
In addition to the work delivered by CanAtom, the Retube Feeder and Boiler Replacement Program will be supported by BWXT Canada in Peterborough and Cambridge, Nutech in Arnprior, Cameco in Port Hope and NWI Precision in Toronto.
OPG will now proceed with the Project Definition Phase of the project, which will last through 2026. The provincial government is supporting OPG’s $4.1 billion budget for this phase of work, bringing the total investment to date in the project to $6.2 billion.
“Refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station’s B units is a critical step toward securing affordable, reliable and clean energy for Ontario’s growing electricity needs while creating more good paying jobs,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “I’m pleased to be working with Premier Ford and Minister Lecce to safely extend the life of this station.”
“Drawing on the shared experience of OPG, Aecon, AtkinsRéalis, labour unions and skilled tradespeople on the Darlington Refurbishment Project, we have set the stage for success as we prepare to refurbish Units 5-8 at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station,” said Nicolle Butcher, OPG president and CEO. “Pickering Nuclear Generating Station has a long history of helping power Ontario, and thanks to investments like this, will continue to do so for decades to come.”
“This contract award builds on the success of our joint venture on the Darlington refurbishment project and signifies OPG’s continued confidence in our team to refurbish their reactor fleet on-time, within budget and with an unwavering commitment to safety and quality,” stated Jean-Louis Servranckx, president and chief executive officer of Aecon Group Inc. “Aecon is proud to be playing an important role as the constructor on North America’s three largest nuclear refurbishment projects – providing future generations with clean, safe, reliable, and affordable electricity with the Government of Ontario.”
According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the province’s demand for electricity is forecast to increase by 75 per cent by 2050, the equivalent of adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to the grid.