The Ontario government has given the green light to Ontario Power Generation’s plan to upgrade four Candu nuclear reactors at Pickering, paving the way for the project’s execution phase, pending final regulatory approvals. “For over 50 years, nuclear energy has been essential to Ontario’s power grid, with the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station recognized as one of the top-performing and consistently operating nuclear stations globally,” Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce stated while announcing the government’s endorsement. “To fulfill our ambitious jobs plan aimed at boosting employment for Canadians, extending this facility’s lifespan will create opportunities for tens of thousands of skilled workers while enhancing the Ontario supply chain and keeping 90 percent of our project spending within Canada.” Pickering units 5-8 – referred to as Pickering B – began functioning in the mid-1980s and were set to halt electricity generation this year. However, in 2022, the provincial government instructed OPG to keep them running until 2026 and reassess refurbishment viability. The government approved OPG to initiate the refurbishment project in January 2024 and granted permission a year later for starting the project definition phase. The total budget for refurbishing Pickering is CAD26.8 billion (USD19.1 billion). A report from the Conference Board of Canada suggests that this mega-project – which will allow the plant to operate for up to another 38 years – will boost Ontario’s GDP by CAD38.2 billion in 2024 dollars throughout its lifetime, including CAD17 billion during refurbishment alone, while also increasing Canada’s national GDP by CAD41.6 billion over its duration. Approximately 30,500 jobs are expected to be created during refurbishment, with ongoing operations at the station supporting around 6,700 positions. To manage costs effectively, officials state they will continue looking into potential financial solutions that could benefit consumers while OPG “continues exploring other optimal financing arrangements.”
Pickering (Image: OPG) Refurbishing CANDU reactors involves significant work where thousands of components – including major elements like steam generators and pressure tubes – are examined or replaced before returning a reassembled reactor back into service. OPG has been refurbishing four units at its Darlington site; lessons learned there will be applied at Pickering since it’s a more intricate and larger endeavor than Darlington. The work at Pickering includes replacing all 48 steam generators across those four units-components that were only inspected but not replaced at Darlington. With approval from authorities, OPG said it would push forward with defining phase activities that will extend well into 2026. Contracts have already been signed with local suppliers for refurbishment work; notably a CAD2.1-billion contract with CanAtom focusing on early engineering and procurement efforts related to preparing for executing the Retube Feeder and Boiler Replacement Program. They aim to kick off Project Execution Phase early in 2027 with completion anticipated by mid-2030s. “This is a truly remarkable moment for Pickering Nuclear, our employees, and the community,” OPG President and CEO Nicolle Butcher expressed. “We are ready to leverage all of our ongoing lessons and experience from our Darlington Refurbishment and construction of G7’s first Small Modular Reactor to deliver another successful nuclear refurbishment for Ontario. Through this project we will ensure this important station continues playing a vital role in our future-providing essential energy along with economic benefits while maintaining high-quality jobs that secure energy stability in Ontario and Canada.” Pickering units 1 through 4-the last segments making up Pickering A-stopped commercial operations in 2024.
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