Work has begun on Darlington Nuclear Generating Station’s Unit 1, the third of four reactors to undergo mid-life refurbishment.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced it has now passed the midway point in the 10-year execution of this $12.8 billion project, which will enable production of clean, safe, low cost and emission free electricity from Darlington for an additional 30-plus years. Project execution began, after extensive planning, in October of 2016.
Unit 4, the final unit to be refurbished, is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2023.
“Through the Darlington Refurbishment Project Ontario is securing its supply of clean, reliable nuclear baseload power and the good jobs that come with it for decades to come,” said Ontario Minister of Energy Todd Smith. “This project is reinvigorating Ontario’s extensive nuclear supply chain for this and future projects, including the ability to support the deployment Small Modular Reactors in Ontario, across Canada, and around the world.”
The overall project remains on track for completion by the end of 2026.
Featured image: (OPG)