Major Contract Awarded for Pickering Nuclear Upgrade

Aecon Group, along with its partners Atkins Réalis and Siemens Energy, has received contracts totaling C$3bn ($2.13bn) to upgrade Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.

This deal is a key step in the long-term plans to prolong the life of one of Canada’s biggest nuclear plants.

The contracts will contribute C$1.75bn to Aecon’s construction backlog by the third quarter of 2026 after initial preparatory work is finished.

Main construction work is set to kick off in January 2027, pending regulatory approval, while preliminary site preparations have already begun this month.

A 50/50 joint venture between Aecon and Atkins Réalis, operating as Candu Energy, secured a C$1.7bn contract for the Retube, Feeder and Boiler Replacement (RFBR) project at Pickering Unit 5. This work involves replacing steam generators, fuel channels, and feeders.

<p Similar efforts are planned for Units 6, 7, and 8 in future phases, depending on further regulatory approvals.

Aecon and Siemens Energy also won a C$1.3bn contract for the Turbine Generator Replacement project.

Aecon leads this consortium and will handle construction services and material procurement.

The scope includes putting in place 14 new steam turbine rotors, refurbishing four generators, and adding new auxiliary systems along with upgraded control and monitoring systems.

The refurbishment aims to extend operational life by up to 38 years for four CANDU reactors. It’s estimated that this project will generate around 30,500 jobs annually during construction and provide about 7,500 jobs across Canada throughout the plant’s lifespan.

<p. Once the refurbishment is done, the site is expected to deliver up to 2,200MW of power-enough to supply more than two million homes with electricity.

Aecon Group president and CEO Jean-Louis Servranckx stated: “Advancing the Pickering Nuclear Refurbishment Project is another significant milestone in Ontario’s clean energy future and further demonstrates the strength of Aecon’s comprehensive nuclear construction expertise.”

“Building on decades of experience successfully delivering the largest and most complex nuclear projects across North America; our teams are proud to support OPG in extending the life of this important nuclear generating station while helping ensure a reliable supply of low-carbon electricity for Ontario.”

According to the Ontario government over90%of project spending will remain within Ontario, andthe refurbishmentisexpectedto contribute C$41.6bnto Canada’s GDP.

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