OPG awards major contract for Pickering refurbishment

The contract for works associated with the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station Retube, Feeder and Boiler Replacement project covers professional engineering services, procurement of long-lead components, and construction and execution planning for the refurbishment of Pickering units 5-8. The mandates are worth around CAD1.1 billion (USD767 million) to the joint venture for early works and CAD1 billion for the definition phase. Early works are already under way.

Aecon and AtkinsRéalis have successfully completed the refurbishment of three of the Darlington units ahead of schedule. That project is now more than 85% complete. The Pickering award "builds on the success of our joint venture on the Darlington Refurbishment Project and signifies OPG’s continued confidence in our team to refurbish their reactor fleet on-time, within budget and with an unwavering commitment to safety and quality”, Aecon President and CEO Jean-Louis Servranckx said.

AtkinsRéalis is the original equipment manufacturer of the CANDU reactor technology: the pressurised heavy water reactor design was developed by federal Crown corporation Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd which sold its reactor division to SNC-Lavalin's Candu Energy subsidiary in 2011 (SNC-Lavalin Group Inc rebranded to AtkinsRéalis in 2023).

With Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator forecasting a 75% increase in electricity demand by 2050, nuclear capacity features in the province's plans which include new capacity as well as life extensions of existing units. In addition to the plans to refurbish Pickering units 5-8, which were announced in January 2024, major life extension programmes are under way at the Bruce and Darlington nuclear plants. Four small modular reactor units are planned at Darlington, new nuclear reactors totalling 4,800 MW are planned at Bruce Power’s site, and OPG recently announced it is exploring the suitability of three of its sites in southern Ontario to host new energy generation including new nuclear power.

The Pickering life-extension project will not only sustain current jobs but also create new employment opportunities for a highly skilled and well-paying engineering, skilled trades, and manufacturing workforce, AtkinsRéalis said.

"Refurbishing Pickering secures decades more of the low carbon reliable baseload electricity Ontario needs to meet forecasted soaring demand,” said Nicolle Butcher, OPG President and CEO. “Drawing on our shared experience on the on-time, on-budget Darlington Refurbishment Project, working with trusted partners like AtkinsRéalis and Aecon sets the stage for similar project excellence as we refurbish Units 5-8 at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.”