Work has begun to reassemble Darlington unit 2, Ontario Power Generation announced yesterday. The 878 MWe Candu unit is the first of Darlington's four reactors to undergo refurbishment to enable it to operate for a further 30 years.

Bruce Power has signed CAD914 million (USD712 million) in advanced manufacturing contracts for its major component replacement that starts in 2020 and will allow the site to provide low-cost, carbon-free electricity to Ontario to 2064. Announcing the deals yesterday, Bruce Power said its Life-Extension Programme - which includes the MCRs on units 3-8 - remains on time and on budget.

Rolls-Royce is to modernise control rod systems in 14 of China General Nuclear's CPR1000 nuclear power units in China. The UK engineering firm has also signed long-term service contracts with three Chinese plants.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce says the continued operation of the Pickering nuclear power plant until 2024 would be a benefit to Ontario's economy, its local communities, its climate change goals and the stability of its energy system.

Removal of the final calandria tube insert at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington unit 2 yesterday marks the completion of an important step in disassembly of the Candu reactor as it undergoes refurbishment.

Those who enter the workforce in the coming years will be greeted with the opportunity to be a part of one of Canada's most exciting industries, Glenn Thibeault, Ontario's energy minister, told delegates at the Canadian Nuclear Association's Annual Conference & Trade Show, which was held in Ottawa on 23 February.

Ontario Power Generation can proceed with the refurbishment of Darlington unit 3 after receiving the go-ahead from the province's Ministry of Energy. Refurbishment of Darlington unit 2 has now passed the half-way mark.

Bruce Power has awarded L3 MAPPS a contract to replace the digital control computer system of unit 2 of the Bruce A nuclear power plant in Ontario. Last year it was awarded a similar contract for unit 6 of Bruce B.

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has published its decision on Ontario Power Generation's (OPG's) application regarding payments for regulated nuclear and hydropower output in 2017-2021. While approving budgets for the refurbishment and extended operation of reactors, the regulator called for OPG to cut costs.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has restarted the 30 MWt High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor (Hanaro), which has been offline for the past three-and-a-half years. During this period, the reactor has undergone safety upgrades.

Some SEK900 million ($107 million) will be invested in installing independent core cooling systems at units 3 and 4 of the Ringhals nuclear power plant in Sweden. The legally-required safety upgrade will enable the two reactors to continue operating beyond 2020.

Canada-based L3 MAPPS has completed an upgrade of the full scope simulator at the Krško nuclear power plant in Slovenia. The upgrade was carried out as part of a safety upgrade programme to modernise the plant.