Image Courtesy of Bruce Power
Bruce Power has awarded a $400-million contract for its Unit 3 Major Component Replacement Project.
The Tiverton energy company says in a release the agreement is with Shoreline Power Group Consortium, which will be responsible for successfully executing the replacement of fuel channels and feeders.
“We are making this key contract award today with the confidence that the members of the Shoreline Power Group have demonstrated the experience and commitment to safety, quality and innovation to successfully deliver this key part of our Life Extension program,” says Bruce Power President and CEO Mike Rencheck in a statement.
Shoreline Power Group is a joint venture between Aecon, SNC-Lavalin and United Engineers & Constructors and is currently executing fuel channel and feeder replacement work on Unit 6, with the majority of work expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
In 2018, the joint venture signed a preferred supplier agreement for fuel channel and feeder replacement work at the plant’s remaining five units as part of the Bruce Major Component Replacement (MCR) program. With the award of Unit 3, there are four units remaining.
The Unit 3 Major Component Replacement will commence in 2023, however, preparatory work by Shoreline Power Group will begin in early 2022.
“This new refurbishment work on Unit 3 is a continued vote of confidence by Bruce Power in our abilities as the Original Equipment Manufacturer and steward of CANDU nuclear technology,” says Sandy Taylor, President, Nuclear, SNC-Lavalin. “We will continue to leverage our deep technical knowledge base, decades of CANDU experience and innovation to confidently fulfill the refurbishment needs for this reactor as we have been doing now for several years on Unit 6.”
According to a release from Bruce Power, this will create and sustain an average of 825 jobs annually – with a peak of 1,500 – directly and indirectly, over the next 10 plus years in Grey, Bruce and Huron counties, and throughout Ontario.
The $400-million contract will be funded entirely by Bruce Power and will continue on successive units based on safety, quality, cost and overall performance, a statement about the agreement explains.
“This award for the FCFR work at Unit 3 highlights the confidence Bruce Power has in Shoreline Power Group and our success in executing the FCFR work currently underway at Unit 6,” says Scott Reeder, Chief Executive Officer at United.
President and CEO of Aecon Group Inc. Jean-Louis Servranckx: “We are proud of the progress that has been made by Shoreline Power Group to successfully execute FCFR work on Unit 6, and the award of Unit 3 further strengthens our long-term partnership with Bruce Power to continue advancing the MCR program.”
Ontario Minister of Energy Todd Smith praised the deal that will help secure jobs and access to reliable and affordable power.
“Ontario is committed to maintaining a safe and reliable electricity supply,” Smith says in a statement. “The awarding of this contract will not only create hundreds of jobs across Grey, Bruce and Huron counties, but will extend the operational life of Bruce Power, ensuring Ontario families and businesses have long-term electricity price stability.”