Pickering Nuclear Generating Station begins $26.8B refurbishment

Four reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario are beginning to come offline to commence a massive refurbishment project. Estimated to cost $26.8 billion, the work is scheduled to begin in earnest in January.

The project is expected to keep the units out of service for approximately a decade, but it aims to extend the plant’s operational life by up to 38 years. Once completed, the facility will be capable of providing electricity to 2.2 million homes. Technical work includes the replacement of 1,520 fuel channels and 48 boilers, as well as the construction of a 1.5-kilometre deep-water intake.

Energy Minister Stephen Lecce stated the project is expected to support 30,500 jobs, with most costs remaining within Ontario. However, the group Environmental Defence has raised concerns that the decade-long outage may force a greater reliance on natural gas for electricity, potentially increasing greenhouse gas emissions.