Ontario government approves OPG’s plan to refurbish Pickering Nuclear Generating Station’s “B” units, aiming to boost economic growth, create jobs, and provide clean energy.
A landmark step towards reinforcing Ontario’s energy infrastructure, the provincial government has cleared Ontario Power Generation’s plan to proceed with the Project Definition Phase for the refurbishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station’s “B” units, Units 5-8. This move would help in meeting the increasing demands for electricity by ensuring a steady and clean supply.
Economic and Employment Benefits
The project is expected to generate huge economic benefits. The Conference Board of Canada, conducting an independent analysis, projects an increase of $19.4 billion in the GDP of Ontario from this project over its 11-year period. The project is also expected to result in the creation of about 11,000 jobs every year, supporting the growth of the labor force across the province through existing and new well-paying positions in the nuclear and associated industries. The post-refurbishment operations of the facility are also expected to support about 6,410 jobs in Ontario annually for years to come.
Project Timeline and Objectives
According to OPG’s draft timetable, the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is expected to be refurbished during the mid-2030s. When it is refurbished, the station would generate 2,000 megawatts of electricity, thus powering two million homes and further helping meet this growing demand resulting from electrification and fuelling the growth in the province.
Government and Industry Perspectives
Energy Minister Todd Smith said, “With global business looking to expand in jurisdictions with reliable, affordable, and clean electricity, a refurbished Pickering Nuclear Generating Station would help Ontario compete for and land more game-changing investments.”
Today’s announcement is a testament to the highly skilled Pickering Nuclear team, whose focus on safety and performance allows the station to reliably power the equivalent of more than two million Ontario homes,” OPG President and CEO Ken Hartwick said.
The refurbishment contributes to Ontario’s goal of diminishing carbon emissions. Maintaining operation of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station would provide an assured, pollution-free, low-cost source of energy for Ontario while saving nearly 2.1 megatonnes of CO₂ in the year 2026. Such a reduction means about 20% less amount of projected discharge from the generation sector in 2026 is equivalent to ensuring up to 643,000 cars are eliminated from the province’s roads on an annual basis.
Future plans
In preparation for refurbishment, the government has allowed 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. This phase will involve detailed planning, engineering, and procurement activities to ensure the project’s successful execution.
Government funding to refurbish the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station represents a great way for Ontario’s government to affirm its continued effort toward having a sustainable, secure, and prosperous energy future in the province.
