Ontario’s multi-billion-dollar refurbishment program will extend the operating life of four CANDU reactors, with major construction contracts already awarded.
Image courtesy of Ontario Power Generation.
Construction has started on the refurbishment of Ontario Power Generation’s Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, launching a major construction program that will extend the operating life of four CANDU reactors by as much as 38 years.
The project will refurbish Pickering’s Units 5 through 8, ultimately returning up to 2,200 MW of generating capacity to Ontario’s electricity grid. However, reactor refurbishment work remains subject to final Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approval, expected in January 2027.
Major contracts are already moving forward.
Candu Energy, an AtkinsRéalis company, and Aecon have signed a three-year, $1.7-billion contract with Ontario Power Generation covering work associated with Unit 5’s Retube, Feeder and Boiler Replacement program. The scope includes engineering and design, project delivery and program and project management. Similar work is anticipated on Units 6, 7 and 8 in subsequent phases, subject to regulatory approval.
“The execution phase contract for the first Pickering unit refurbishment is an important milestone in the broader program,” AtkinsRéalis said in announcing the contract.
The refurbishment represents a significant long-term opportunity for Ontario’s construction and skilled-trades sectors. Provincial estimates indicate the project will support approximately 30,500 jobs annually during construction and about 7,500 jobs across Canada over its lifespan. More than 90 per cent of project spending is expected to remain in Ontario and Canada, with the project also expected to contribute $41.6 billion to Canadian GDP over its lifespan.
Pickering joins a growing pipeline of nuclear construction in Ontario that includes the ongoing Darlington refurbishment program and preparations for new small modular reactors at the Darlington site.