Ontario Advancing Plan to Refurbish Pickering Nuclear Generating Station

 The Ontario government has approved Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) plan to proceed with the Project Definition Phase, the next step toward refurbishing Pickering Nuclear Generating Station’s “B” units to secure more power and create thousands of jobs across the province. As part of the preparation for refurbishment, the government has authorized OPG to sign a $2.1 billion contract with CanAtom for early engineering and procurement to prepare for the execution of the Retube Feeder and Boiler Replacement Program, creating more than 2,400 jobs across the province.

“The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station has powered cities and towns across Ontario with affordable, reliable and zero-emissions electricity for more than fifty years, supporting thousands of jobs in the process,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is focused on delivering affordable energy, while we stand firm against the federal carbon tax. This refurbishment would protect those good paying jobs and provide the affordable and reliable power our province will need for decades to come.”

Once refurbished, Pickering would produce more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, equivalent to powering two million homes, to help meet increasing demand, driven by electrification and the province’s surging economic growth. Based on OPG’s preliminary schedule, the refurbishment is anticipated to be completed by the mid-2030s.

The Conference Board of Canada projects the full refurbishment project would create 11,000 jobs per year while contributing $19.4 billion to Ontario’s GDP over 11 years. This project would benefit communities across Ontario with approximately 90 per cent of spending happening inside the province. In addition to the work delivered by CanAtom, a joint venture of Aecon and AtkinsRéalis, the Retube Feeder and Boiler Replacement Program will be supported by BWXT Canada in Peterborough and Cambridge, Nutech in Arnprior, Cameco in Port Hope and NWI Precision in Toronto.

OPG will now proceed with the Project Definition Phase of the project, which will last through 2026. The government is supporting OPG’s $4.1 billion budget for this phase of work, bringing the total investment to date in the project to $6.2 billion. OPG will complete a high-quality cost estimate and schedule for the project, progress detailed engineering, further procurement and contracting work, as well as develop a robust project execution plan. This extensive planning and preparation will help ensure the final project, if approved, is completed on time and on budget, consistent with the Darlington Refurbishment Project which is on-budget and ahead of schedule.

“Refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station’s ‘B’ units is a critical step toward securing affordable, reliable and clean energy for Ontario’s growing electricity needs while creating more good paying jobs,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “I’m pleased to be working with Premier Ford and Minister Lecce to safely extend the life of this station and protect more than 6,000 jobs in Pickering and across Durham Region that depend on the continued operation of the station.”

OPG has also committed to spending $100 million with Indigenous companies over the life of the refurbishment project. This will ensure that local First Nations that host nuclear projects see the economic benefits including employment throughout the planning and execution of the project.

“Drawing on the shared experience of OPG, Aecon, AtkinsRéalis, labour unions and skilled tradespeople on the Darlington Refurbishment Project, we have set the stage for success as we prepare to refurbish Units 5-8 at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station,” said Nicolle Butcher, OPG President and CEO. “Pickering Nuclear Generating Station has a long history of helping power Ontario, and thanks to investments like this, will continue to do so for decades to come.”

Refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is just one part of Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future, the government’s vision as it plans for rising energy demand, which includes:

• Energy Planning – Developing the province’s first integrated energy plan, including all energy resources, such as electricity, natural gas, and other fuels to ensure the province’s energy needs are met in a coordinated and long-term manner.
• Nuclear Energy – Advancing clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power on the province’s first large-scale nuclear build in 30 years, four small modular reactors at Darlington, supporting OPG’s plan for refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station and exploring new nuclear energy generation in Port Hope.
• New Transmission Infrastructure – Designating and prioritizing transmission lines in Southwestern, Northeastern and Eastern Ontario that will power job creation, including EV and EV battery manufacturing and clean steel production.
• Keeping Costs Down – Launching new energy efficiency programs worth $10.9 billion over the next 12 years, which will help families and businesses reduce their electricity usage and save money on their energy bills.
• Additional Competitive Procurements – Launching the largest competitive procurement of clean energy resources in the province’s history in addition to successfully re-contracting existing capacity resources at about a 30 per cent discount.

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