$26.8 Billion Refurbishment of Pickering Nuclear Plant Set to Begin in 2027
The refurbishment of four reactors at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, costing nearly $27 billion, is scheduled to start early next year. This initiative aims to extend the reactors' operational life by nearly four decades and is expected to create over 30,000 jobs, while potentially increasing reliance on natural gas in the interim.
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The refurbishment of four reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, with an estimated cost of $26.8 billion, will commence in early 2027. The Ontario government approved the project in November, pending final approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Units 5 to 8 will be offline by September 2027, with Unit 5 being the first to undergo refurbishment. A new training facility, covering 200,000 square feet, is under construction to prepare over 2,800 skilled trades staff.
This facility will include mock-ups of reactor components and support the refurbishment process. Supply partners, including BWXT Canada and ATS Industrial Automation, are fabricating essential components.
Once completed, the refurbishment will secure 2,100 megawatts of clean energy for over 30 years, supporting Ontario's rising energy demand. However, environmental analysts warn of increased greenhouse gas emissions due to the temporary shutdown of the reactors, which currently provide 14% of the province's electricity.
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