Pickering Nuclear Station refurbishment begins in Ontario

Construction has commenced on the refurbishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, a major clean energy infrastructure project in Ontario. The initiative aims to extend the operational life of the facility’s four CANDU reactors by up to 38 years.

As part of the project, the Pickering B units (Units 5 through 8) are scheduled to be removed from service by the end of September 2026. Once the refurbishment is complete, the station is expected to supply up to 2,200 megawatts of electricity, enough to power approximately 2.2 million homes. The facility currently provides about 14 percent of Ontario’s electricity.

The project is expected to have a significant economic impact, with officials stating it will create approximately 30,500 jobs annually during the construction phase and 7,500 jobs across Canada over its lifespan. More than C$3 billion in contracts have already been awarded to Ontario- and Canada-based suppliers, with the government aiming to keep over 90 percent of project costs within the province to strengthen the local nuclear supply chain.

Technical work will include the replacement of 1,520 fuel channels and 48 boilers, alongside the construction of a 1.5-kilometer deep-water intake and a specialized training facility.