Major Upgrade Planned for Pickering Nuclear Station

The province has announced that refurbishing four CANDU reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station from 2027 to 2030 will create nearly 37,000 jobs.

Energy Minister Stephen Lecce stated on Wednesday that this refurbishment will prolong the life of the facility, providing affordable, reliable, and clean energy for as long as 38 years.

“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,” said Lecce.

“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% of our project spend in this country,” he added. “After the previous government’s attempt to shut down the facility, this refurbishment signals that we are doubling down on Canadian technology, Canadian workers and the Canadian supply chain to protect our economy from global instability.”

Recommended video

According to officials, this initiative is set to open up more export opportunities, provide good-paying jobs and foster a more competitive and self-sufficient economy in light of U. S. tariffs.

Pending final licensing approvals from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), OPG (Ontario Power Generation) is expected to kick off the Project Execution Phase to refurbish Pickering “B” units in early 2027, aiming for completion by mid-2030s.

INCREASED ELECTRICITY WILL POWER 2.2 MILLION HOMES

Once finished, Pickering is projected to produce an increased capacity of up to 2,200 megawatts (MW) of electricity-enough to power approximately 2.2 million homes.

This project should generate around 30,500 jobs during refurbishment while maintaining about 6,700 positions throughout its operational phase.

With a total budget set at $26.8 billion, over 90% of these funds will be spent within Canada supporting local businesses and generating economic benefits across Ontario.

The refurbishment of Pickering “B” is also anticipated to ensure a steady supply of Cobalt -60 , a crucial medical isotope used in cancer therapies as well as sterilization processes for medical equipment and food products.The government aims to double medical isotope production in Ontario overthe next four years.

Source link