Unit becomes fourth out of six at Ontario nuclear station to undergo process
Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) said Bruce Power has met the terms and conditions to proceed with another major component replacement (MCR) project at the eight-unit Bruce nuclear power station.
Unit 5 will be the fourth of six units at the Bruce site to undergo the MCR process, part of a life extension project at the Bruce facility.
Unit 6 was the first, returning to commercial service in September. Units 3 and 4 are currently undergoing their MCR outages and will be followed by Units 5, 7 and 8 in overlapping outages until 2033.
Ontario’s energy and mines minister Stephen Lecce said the government is squarely focused on delivering affordable power while building, buying, and securing more energy that is built by and for Canadians.
“As we stare down president Trump’s tariff threat, I am proud that well over 90% of all materials purchased are stamped with ‘Made in Canada,’ creating over 20,000 jobs for Ontario’s skilled workforce.”
IESO president and chief executive officer Lesley Gallinger said with demand for electricity forecasted to rise over the next 25 years, refurbishments of Bruce Power’s nuclear units support the long-term reliability, affordability and sustainability of Ontario’s electricity system and also contribute significantly to the economic and social wellbeing of communities across the province.
The MCR projects are part of Bruce Power’s CAD13bn ($9.1bn, €8.2bn) refurbishment project, which is Canada’s largest private sector clean energy infrastructure project.
The company aims to refurbish six of the Bruce nuclear stations’ reactors to boost generating capacity from 6,550 MW to more than 7,000 MW in the 2030s.
The eight Candu heavy water reactor units at the Bruce site began commercial operation between September 1977 and May 1987
The IESO is a state corporation responsible for operating the electricity market and directing the operation of the bulk electrical system in the province of Ontario.
