Pickering nuclear reactors start coming off-line for massive refurbishment

Ontario's nuclear plant Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is embarking on a massive refurbishment project, aiming to extend the plant's life by up to 38 years. Four reactors at the facility are beginning to be taken offline starting Monday, with the entire refurbishment estimated to cost $26.8 billion. The project is expected to commence in January and will take the units out of service for approximately a decade.

The refurbishment work includes replacing 1,520 fuel channels, 48 boilers, and constructing a 1.5-kilometre deep-water intake. This will generate enough electricity to power 2.2 million homes, ensuring a stable electricity supply for the province. Energy Minister Stephen Lecce highlights that the project will support 30,500 jobs, with the majority of the costs remaining within Ontario.

However, environmental concerns have been raised. Environmental Defence argues that taking Pickering's reactors offline for most of the next decade could lead to an increased reliance on natural gas for electricity generation, resulting in higher greenhouse gas emissions.