Tuesday, June 9, 2026
The Government Ontario and Bruce Power announced the successful completion and return to service of the Unit 3 reactor, with refurbishment completed seven months ahead of schedule and $150 million under budget.
Originally scheduled to return to service in January 2027, the refurbished reactor will provide more than 800 megawatts (MW) of reliable, affordable and clean power for over 35 years, enough to power more than 800,000 homes.
Bruce Unit 3 is the second of six units undergoing refurbishment between 2020 and 2033 as part of Bruce Power’s Life‑Extension Program.
The Bruce Power Refurbishment project is No. 5 on ReNew Canada’s 2026 Top100 Projects report.
“When Ontario successfully completed the world’s largest nuclear refurbishment at Darlington ahead of schedule and under budget, critics said it couldn’t be done again. Yet again, we are proving them wrong as we delivered a record-setting refurbishment under budget and seven months ahead of schedule,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines.
The Unit 3 refurbishment replaced key components such as fuel channels, feeder tubes, and steam generators. This refurbishment also marked a significant step in nuclear innovation with the first robotic tools used ever on a reactor face to refurbish a CANDU reactor, as well as setting a record for calandria tube removal completing it 11 days ahead of schedule.
The Bruce Power Life-Extension Program will refurbish six reactors, extending the operating life of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station through 2064. Once at full power, the refurbished reactor will generate enough electricity to power a city the size of Brampton, while helping Ontario to meet electricity demand forecasted to grow by up to 90 per cent by 2050.
“With Unit 3 now back in service and providing safe, clean, and reliable electricity to the province, we continue to demonstrate that large-scale nuclear projects in Ontario can be delivered safely, efficiently, and with real benefits for ratepayers,” said Eric Chassard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bruce Power. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our workforce, our skilled trades partners, and the strength of our made-in-Canada nuclear industry.”
Featured image: (Bruce Power)
