Contracts announced as Pickering refurb approaches

Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) Pickering units 5 to 8 - together known as Pickering B - are to be removed from service by the end of September for refurbishment to officially begin in January 2027, subject to final regulatory approval. After the major project - which will include the replacement of 1,520 fuel channels, 48 boilers and building a 1.5-kilometre deep-water intake - the refurbished station will supply up to 2,200 MW of power.

As site construction began on 21 September, the Province of Ontario announced that a CAD1.7 billion contract for the execution phase of the Retube, Feeder and Boiler Replacement (RFBR) for Pickering 5 has been awarded to a 50:50 joint venture of Aecon Group Inc and Candu Energy, an AtkinsRéalis company. A consortium of Aecon and Siemens Energy Canada has been awarded a contract worth CAD1.3 billion for the Turbine Generator Replacement. The refurbishment project as a whole is expected to contribute CAD41.6 billion to Canada's GDP.

The scope of the Retube, Feeder and Boiler Replacement work is a critical component of the Pickering refurbishment project, including the replacement of steam generators, fuel channels and feeders. The contract covers engineering and design services, project delivery, as well as programme and project management associated with the CANDU reactors, including work that would enable Unit 5 to operate until the 2060s, AtkinsRéalis said. Similar work will need to be carried out on units 6, 7 and 8 in subsequent phases of the refurbishment project.

The Turbine Generator Replacement scope includes installation of 14 new steam turbine rotors, the overhaul of four generators (including stator rewinds), as well as the delivery of new auxiliary systems, and a control and monitoring system. Aecon holds a majority interest in the consortium with Siemens, and will provide construction services and material procurement. 

Both projects are currently nearing completion of collaborative development work, with further prerequisite work expected to start this month, Aecon said.

"Advancing the Pickering Nuclear Refurbishment Project is another significant milestone in Ontario's clean energy future and further demonstrates the strength of Aecon's comprehensive nuclear construction expertise," Aecon Group President and CEO Jean-Louis Servranckx said. "Building on decades of experience successfully delivering the largest and most complex nuclear projects across North America, our teams are proud to support OPG in extending the life of this important nuclear generating station while helping ensure a reliable supply of low-carbon electricity for Ontario."

"AtkinsRéalis brings decades of hands-on experience refurbishing Canadian-owned CANDU reactors in Ontario, with a proven track record of delivering complex life-extension work safely, reliably and with the discipline required for on-time and on-budget performance," AtkinsRéalis President and CEO Ian Edwards said. "This work at the Pickering station will help ensure Ontario continues to benefit from reliable, affordable and low-carbon electricity for decades to come."

Pickering units 5-8 began operations in the mid-1980s and had been scheduled to end electricity production this year, but in 2022 the provincial government directed OPG to keep them in operation until 2026 and to reassess the feasibility of refurbishing the units. The government gave OPG the go-ahead to begin the initiation phase of the refurbishment project in January 2024, and one year later, it gave its permission for the start of the project definition phase. In November, the Ontario government formally approved OPG's refurbishment plan, clearing the way for the execution phase of the project to begin.

Over the years, Pickering Nuclear has consistently met up to 14% of Ontario's electricity needs, according to OPG. President and CEO Nicolle Butcher said that since the first unit at Pickering A began operating in 1971, the plant has established itself as one of the world's largest and best-performing nuclear facilities. "Through its refurbishment, we will ensure this important station continues to play a vital role in powering Ontario for future generations," she said. The last of the Pickering A units, Pickering unit 4, was permanently shut down at the end of 2024.

"When the previous government planned to shut down Pickering, our government chose to protect 4,500 jobs and create 30,500 new jobs by doubling down on Canadian workers, technology and energy sovereignty," Stephen Lecce, Ontario's Minister of Energy and Mines, said. "Today, we are marking a national achievement as we begin work on Canada's largest clean energy infrastructure project and strengthen our made-in-Ontario nuclear supply chain."