Pickering refurb will “strengthen Ontario's economic sovereignty and energy security”

Ontario Power Generation has begun an extensive project to refurbish the Pickering nuclear power plant. Characterized as "Canada's largest clean energy infrastructure project," the refurbishment will extend the operating lifetimes of the facility's four CANDU reactors by as much as 38 years-and support Ontario's nuclear supply chain.

Building up Ontario's supply chain: Last November, the Ontario government approved OPG's refurbishment plans for Pickering. Stephen Lecce, the province's minister of energy and mines, said at the time, "For more than 50 years, nuclear power has been the backbone of Ontario's energy grid, with the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station as one of the best-performing and continuously operating nuclear stations in the world. To deliver on our major jobs plan to get Canadians working, extending the life of the facility will create jobs for tens of thousands of skilled workers while we build up the Ontario supply chain and keep 90 percent of our project spend[ing] in this country."

The Pickering project-which is part of Ontario's long-term Energy for Generations integrated energy initiative to refurbish the province's nuclear fleet and make other investments in energy infrastructure-will involve the replacement of 1,520 fuel channels and 48 boilers, as well as the construction of a 1.5-kilometer deep-water intake. According to OPG, this work will allow the facility to supply as much as 2,200 MW of electricity for some 2.2 million homes. The power plant currently supplies about 14 percent of Ontario's electricity.

The work at Pickering also includes construction of a 200,000-square-foot retube feeder and boiler replacement training and mock-up facility that will provide a training mock-up of Pickering's lower boiler assembly.

Pickering Units 5, 6, 7, and 8-the Pickering B units-are to be removed from service by the end of September in preparation for their refurbishment. The actual refurbishment activities for the four reactors are expected to start early next year, beginning with Unit 5, pending final approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

More than C$3 billion (approximately $2.1 billion) in contracts have been awarded to Ontario- and Canada-based suppliers as part of the government's efforts to keep the project work, spending, and benefits based in the province. The contractors so far include Aecon Group and Candu Energy (an AtkinsRéalis company) for the execution phase of Pickering-5's retube, feeder, and boiler replacement. That contract is valued at about C$1.7 billion (approximately $1.2 billion). Another contract, valued at C$1.3 billion (approximately $922 million), is for turbine generator replacement by Aecon Group and Siemens Energy Canada, including the installation of 14 steam turbine rotors, full stator rewinds, the overhaul of four generators, and the delivery of new auxiliary systems and a control and monitoring system.

Another benefit of the Pickering refurbishment will be the securing of a long-term supply of cobalt-60, a radioisotope used in treatments of patients with cancer and in sterilization of medical equipment and food products. Ontario hopes to double the number of medical radioisotopes produced in the province during the next four years.

Global economic uncertainty and U.S. tariffs: According to the Ontario government, "As global economic uncertainty and U.S. tariffs place increasing pressure on workers and businesses, our government is moving with speed to strengthen Ontario's economic sovereignty and energy security while maintaining rigorous regulatory oversight and the highest standards of nuclear safety. The Pickering refurbishment is part of Ontario's broader plan to expand nuclear generation and strengthen a tariff-proof, recession-proof, and almost entirely made-in-Canada industry."

David Piccini, who represents Northumberland-Peterborough South as a member of Ontario's provincial parliament, emphasized the benefits to the province from the Pickering refurbishment, saying that there "is no better time than now to invest in clean, reliable nuclear energy projects that extend Pickering's legacy, while supporting good-paying Ontario jobs and strengthening our made-in-Ontario supply chain. This marks an important step for the region, Ontario, and Canada as we secure Pickering's future for generations."

Other massive projects: The Pickering refurbishment is the latest massive project designed to improve Ontario's reactor fleet. OPG previously completed the Darlington refurbishment project ahead of schedule, while a refurbishment at Bruce continues. Bruce Power anticipates finishing refurbishment at Bruce in 2033.