Enhancing Ontario’s supply chain: Last November, the Ontario government gave the green light to OPG’s refurbishment plans for Pickering. Stephen Lecce, the province’s energy and mines minister, mentioned back then, “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 aimed at refurbishing the province’s nuclear fleet and making other investments in energy infrastructure-will include replacing 1,520 fuel channels and 48 boilers along with building a 1.5-kilometer deep-water intake. According to OPG, this effort will enable the facility to provide up to 2,200 MW of electricity for around 2.2 million homes. Currently, this power plant accounts for about 14 percent of Ontario’s electricity.
The work at Pickering also consists of constructing a 200,000-square-foot retube feeder and boiler replacement training facility that will offer a mock-up training area for Pickering’s lower boiler assembly.
Pickering Units 5, 6, 7, and 8-the Pickering B units-are set to be taken out of service by September’s end as preparations begin for their refurbishment. The actual refurbishment work on these four reactors is anticipated to start early next year with Unit 5 first in line after receiving final approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Over C$3 billion (about $2.1 billion) in contracts have been given out to suppliers based in Ontario and Canada as part of efforts to keep project work and benefits local. So far, contractors include Aecon Group and Candu Energy (an Atkins Réalis company) responsible for executing Phase One related to Pickering-5’s retube, feeder replacement, and boiler work valued at roughly C$1.7 billion (around $1.2 billion). Another contract worth about C$1.3 billion (approximately $922 million) involves turbine generator replacement by Aecon Group and Siemens Energy Canada which includes installing 14 steam turbine rotors along with full stator rewinds, overhauling four generators as well as delivering new auxiliary systems alongside a control and monitoring system.
An added benefit from refurbishing Pickering will be securing a long-term supply of cobalt-60-a radioisotope utilized in cancer treatments as well as sterilizing medical equipment and food products. Ontario aims to double its production of medical radioisotopes over the next four years.
Facing global economic uncertainty and U. S. tariffs: The Ontario government states that “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, almost entirely made-in-Canada industry.”
David Piccini represents Northumberland-Peterborough South in Ontario’s provincial parliament; he highlighted how beneficial the refurbishment would be saying 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; it matters greatly for both Ontario and Canada as we secure Pickering’s future for generations.”
This renovation at Pickering is just one among several large initiatives aiming to enhance Ontario’s reactor fleet capabilities. OPG previously finished upgrading Darlington ahead of schedule while Bruce continues its refurbishment efforts expected to wrap up by 2033.
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