Ontario Power Generation has kicked off a massive refurbishment project worth an estimated $19 billion for the four active units of the Pickering nuclear power plant located near Toronto. This initiative aims to extend the lifespan of its CANDU reactors by as much as 38 years.
The shutdown of reactors 5, 6, 7, and 8 is scheduled for Sept. 30 as part of preparations for the overhaul, which is expected to take nearly ten years to complete. Major work will commence early next year, starting with Unit 5, pending final approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Situated on the northern shore of Lake Ontario about 20 miles northeast of Toronto, the plant began operations in 1971 and eventually reached a “nameplate” capacity of 3.1 GW across eight reactors. Units 1 through 4 ceased commercial operation in 2024 and are currently being defueled and readied for safe storage. The remaining units-5 through 8-were commissioned between 1983 and 1986 and now provide around 2.1 GW, accounting for approximately 14% of Ontario’s electricity supply. According to Ontario Power Generation, this upgrade will add an additional 100 MW of capacity.
The Pickering project forms part of Ontario’s long-term Energy for Generations program aimed at modernizing its nuclear fleet while also investing in other energy infrastructure. It will include replacing over 1,520 fuel channels and installing new boilers along with constructing a deep-water intake that stretches over a kilometer.
“Since it first began operating, Pickering Nuclear has established itself as one of the world’s largest and best-performing nuclear facilities,” said Nicolle Butcher, utility president and CEO. The project is expected to create around 30,500 jobs each year during construction, according to company estimates.
The provincial government characterized this upgrade as a strategic move toward energy independence for Canada after completing a $9.4 billion refurbishment on four reactors totaling up to 3.5 GW at the Darlington plant earlier this year-four months ahead of schedule and $110 million under budget. An equivalent upgrade at Bruce nuclear plant is currently underway with an estimated cost of $9.2 billion slated for completion in2033.
“As President Trump continues to target Ontario’s economy, the government is acting to secure Ontario’s energy future with the start of construction [at Pickering],” stated the provincial government in a release. “The Pickering refurbishment is part of Ontario’s broader plan to expand nuclear generation and bolster an industry that’s tariff-proof and resilient against economic downturns-all while keeping it made-in-Canada.”
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Try Ask ENR, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ENR → ]]> Hear Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney outline plans to expand investment in energy and infrastructure. Energy Minister Stephen Lecce remarked that “the best way Ontario can fight back … is to build big. We are not only moving this historic project forward but also awarding contracts that will keep more than90%of project costs within Ontario.” This push towards nuclear energy aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s vision to enhance domestic energy production aimed at self-sufficiency-which includes oil and gas alongside renewable resources-and attract greater global investments. “We are unleashing our full potential as an energy superpower,” he told investors during his address at the inaugural Canada Investment Summit held from Sept.14-15 in Toronto. Aecon and Atkins Realis Take Lead Role For their third consecutive time, Toronto-based Aecon Group Inc., alongside its partners Montreal-based engineer Atkins Réalis and Siemens Energy Canada Ltd., based out of Oakville have secured major roles in updating the nuclear plant-collectively awarded contracts worth $2.13 billion for upgrades at Pickering. A joint venture between Aeconand Atkins Réalis received a $1.24 billion contract specifically focused on upgrading Unit5-the first reactor targeted-involving retubing along with feederand boiler replacements which includes swapping out steam generators, fuel channels, and feeders. The utility mentioned similar work would follow suitfor Units6 through8during subsequent phases. The contract encompasses engineering design services alongwith project delivery management duties. Aecon CEO Jean-Louis Servranckx alongside Ian L. Edwards, the president & CEOof Atkins Réalis confirmed that portions relatedto these contractswill reflectin their respectivethird-quarter backlog results. Aecon togetherwith Siemens Energy also has clincheda contract valuedat$922millionaimedatturbinegenerator replacementswithin Pickering. Aecon holds majoritystakeinboth contractsand overseesconstructionand materials procurement tasks involved therein. Aaron Johnson, Aecon senior vice president overseeingnuclear projects expressed how they’re leveraging lessons learnedand proven strategies from[the Darlington]projectto facilitate effective deliveryon Pickering. He addedthat Aeconis additionally spearheadingconstructionforwhatwould be Canada’sfirst commercialgrid-scale small modularreactor setto operateat Darlingtonby2030. Meanwhile, Bruce Powerhas proposed buildingfour large new reactorsatits site totalingaround4 ,800MWmarkingthecountry’sfirstlarge-scaleplantsinover30yearsaccordingto media reports. The Canadian governmentalso mandatedone nuclearsite must eitherbe operational orunder developmentoutside Ontarioby2035. Utilitycompaniesfrom Saskatchewan, new Brunswick Alberta, and Yukon Territoriesare collaboratingonprojectsorexploringtechnologiesrelatedtothis mandate.
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Try Ask ENR, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ENR → ]]> Hear Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney outline plans to expand investment in energy and infrastructure. Energy Minister Stephen Lecce remarked that “the best way Ontario can fight back … is to build big. We are not only moving this historic project forward but also awarding contracts that will keep more than90%of project costs within Ontario.” This push towards nuclear energy aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s vision to enhance domestic energy production aimed at self-sufficiency-which includes oil and gas alongside renewable resources-and attract greater global investments. “We are unleashing our full potential as an energy superpower,” he told investors during his address at the inaugural Canada Investment Summit held from Sept.14-15 in Toronto. Aecon and Atkins Realis Take Lead Role For their third consecutive time, Toronto-based Aecon Group Inc., alongside its partners Montreal-based engineer Atkins Réalis and Siemens Energy Canada Ltd., based out of Oakville have secured major roles in updating the nuclear plant-collectively awarded contracts worth $2.13 billion for upgrades at Pickering. A joint venture between Aeconand Atkins Réalis received a $1.24 billion contract specifically focused on upgrading Unit5-the first reactor targeted-involving retubing along with feederand boiler replacements which includes swapping out steam generators, fuel channels, and feeders. The utility mentioned similar work would follow suitfor Units6 through8during subsequent phases. The contract encompasses engineering design services alongwith project delivery management duties. Aecon CEO Jean-Louis Servranckx alongside Ian L. Edwards, the president & CEOof Atkins Réalis confirmed that portions relatedto these contractswill reflectin their respectivethird-quarter backlog results. Aecon togetherwith Siemens Energy also has clincheda contract valuedat$922millionaimedatturbinegenerator replacementswithin Pickering. Aecon holds majoritystakeinboth contractsand overseesconstructionand materials procurement tasks involved therein. Aaron Johnson, Aecon senior vice president overseeingnuclear projects expressed how they’re leveraging lessons learnedand proven strategies from[the Darlington]projectto facilitate effective deliveryon Pickering. He addedthat Aeconis additionally spearheadingconstructionforwhatwould be Canada’sfirst commercialgrid-scale small modularreactor setto operateat Darlingtonby2030. Meanwhile, Bruce Powerhas proposed buildingfour large new reactorsatits site totalingaround4 ,800MWmarkingthecountry’sfirstlarge-scaleplantsinover30yearsaccordingto media reports. The Canadian governmentalso mandatedone nuclearsite must eitherbe operational orunder developmentoutside Ontarioby2035. Utilitycompaniesfrom Saskatchewan, new Brunswick Alberta, and Yukon Territoriesare collaboratingonprojectsorexploringtechnologiesrelatedtothis mandate.
Nuclear Outage And Expansion Challenges
Officials including Tim Hodgson, Canda’snaturalresources ministerare consideringaplanakin tothe UK modelthat aimsagainst attractingexternalinvestorsfornuclearpowerprojects. Lastyear public pension fund La Caisse announcedit secured investments amounting$2.26billionin England’ s$51billion Sizewell Cnuclearreactorproject. However, a shortageof skilled laborremains a significant concern. Afeasibility reportregardingthe Pickeringprojectacquiredby indicatedthatinsufficientnumbersof skilled workerspose akeyvulnerabilitynotingthattheavailabilityofboilermakerslicensedasbestosinsulatorsalongsideworkersqualifiedintunnelingexpertisewillrequireparticularattention. Trevor Jones, Ontario Minister Labour Immigration Training&Skills Developmentmentionedthat”by expandingaccess apprenticeshipsandskills trainingwearebuildingworkforceontarionneedsdelivermajorprojects like Pickeringrefurbishmentwhilealsosupportingourcontinuedgrowth.”Expandednuclear poweralso brings challengesfor Canadaincludinghow managelong-termstorage spentfuelwhichcurrentlyremainskeptgenerationsites. Nevertheless, the countryreportedlyplansanundergroundpermanentsite disposal.
With Pickeringoutserviceforthenextdecade, the Independent Electricity System Operatorexpressedconcerns regardingalternativefuels neededto coveroutput sinceotherprovincialnuclearplants lackadditionalcapacitypotential.
Consequently, Ontariohasalready initiatedprocurementprocessesincreasingnatural gasgeneration. Fouroutofsixmajorcontractsawardedrecentprocurementroundswenttonaturalgas plantsaccounting90%ofthe746-MWblockreportedonthe 2025elevatingconcernsregardingheightenedcarbonemissions.
However, the system operatoracknowledgedrenewableenergyalongwithbatterystorage appearstobegaining tractionlonger-termprocurements till2034 undersellinggaspriceoccasionallyreported The Narwhal.[T]he250-MWOneida Energy Storage Project Haldimand Countycompletedlastyeardoublingprovincebatterycapacity475MWwithanother1.8GWexpectedto comeonlineby2028.
Nonetheless, speculation persistsovershortfallsoccurredduring Pickeringenclosurepotentiallyturning Ontariointo netimporterpowerfirsttime2005reportedsourcedfrom Narwhallargely emanating USamidongoingtradewar.
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