BWXT signs contracts for Pickering life extension and Darlington SMR projects

Canadian nuclear developer BWX Technologies (BWXT) has signed contracts to the value CAD$1 billion (US$690 million) to enable Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to extend the life of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, and to deploy a new small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington site.

Under the first contract, BWXT will manufacture 48 steam generators at its Cambridge facility for the Pickering life extension programme.

The Pickering life extension programme is in its initial phases and will enable the Pickering “B” fleet of reactors to operate for an additional 30 years. The work is anticipated to be completed in the mid-2030s.

Pickering features four operating CANDU reactors and accounts for approximately 10% of Ontario’s electricity needs.

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BWXT has also signed a contract to manufacture the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for customer GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s BWRX-300 SMR. The largest component within the technology, the RPV contains the reactor core, coolant and support structures.

The BWRX-300 scheduled for the OPG Darlington New Nuclear Project is on track to be the first on-grid SMR among G7 nations, according to BWXT. The design is a 300MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GE Hitachi’s US NRC-certified ESBWR.

“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. “Ontario’s robust nuclear supply chain, including trusted partners like BWXT, will help ensure these large nuclear projects have the components necessary to complete these projects on time, on budget, safely and with quality.”

John MacQuarrie, president of BWXT Commercial Operations, commented in a statement: “We’ve been taking strategic steps to further meet the current and anticipated demand for nuclear power. These significant projects leverage BWXT’s extensive capabilities and specialized expertise in the delivery of large components for the domestic and global nuclear industry.”

The BWXT Cambridge facility is currently undergoing preparatory work for its CAD$80 million (US$55 milion) expansion to further support the anticipated demand for nuclear projects in Ontario and around the world.