BWX Technologies yesterday announced contracts worth a total value of more than $1 billion for two nuclear energy projects that will enable Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) life extension of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, and the deployment of a small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington site.
Under the first contract, BWXT said it will manufacture 48 steam generators at its Cambridge facility for the Pickering life extension program. The project will create more than 250 trades positions, including welders, fitters, and machinists, as well as add engineers and supporting staff. The duration of the project will be more than seven years.
BWXT is performing the work for its customer CanAtom, a joint venture between AtkinsRéalis and Aecon.
The Pickering Life Extension Program is in its initial phases and will enable the Pickering “B” fleet of reactors to operate for an additional 30 years. BWXT states that the work is anticipated to be completed in the mid-2030s. Pickering features four operating Candu reactors and accounts for about 10 per cent of Ontario’s electricity needs.
“By refurbishing existing assets at Pickering Nuclear, and building SMRs at the Darlington New Nuclear Project, OPG is helping Ontario meet rapidly growing demand for low-carbon, reliable baseload nuclear energy,” said Nicolle Butcher, OPG President CEO.
BWXT said the BWRX-300 scheduled for the OPG Darlington New Nuclear Project is on track to be the first on-grid SMR among G7 nations. The design is a 300-MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH’s U.S. NRC-certified ESBWR.
“Ontario needs more nuclear energy to meet growing electricity demand, and it’s our province’s highly skilled workers that will make it all possible,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification.
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