SNC-Lavalin wins contracts to support Bruce programme

SNC-Lavalin will undertake the detailed design of the units' MCR fuel channel assemblies and calandria tubes, including pressure tubes, end fittings, positioning assemblies, bearing and shielding sleeves and inserts and rolled joints. A stress analysis to determine the strains of the calandria and shield tank assembly will be performed. This work has started and is expected to be completed in 2023, SNC-Lavalin said.

Detailed design of the units' feeders will be undertaken, including a partial replacement of the feeder cabinet and items inside such as instrumentation lines and I&C components. This work has also already begun and will continue into 2022. A seismic margin assessment will be conducted to demonstrate the seismic adequacy of the station, from January to May 2021 for unit 3 and from June 2021 to February 2022 for unit 4.

MCRs are to be carried out at six of Bruce's eight units, extending the operating period of the reactors to 2064. The execution phase of the first MCR began at Bruce 6 on 20 January. "The lessons learned from the successful completion of Unit 6 detailed designs will be applied to further optimise project execution. This is the value we bring as the custodian of CANDU technology," Sandy Taylor, SNC-Lavalin's president of nuclear, said.

The three contracts are within SNCL Engineering Services, and represent additional work not previously awarded under the Master Service Agreement signed in 2016, SNC-Lavalin said.