The report, by Ontario’s Chamber of Commerce, said the CAD12.8bn ($9,7bn, €8.3bn) Darlington nuclear station refurbishment is creating jobs and wealth across the project’s supply chain, and across Ontario. Darlington, which has four commercial Candu reactor units, meets approximately 20% of Ontario’s electricity needs, the report noted.
The chamber also called on the government to make sure the Bruce nuclear power station life-extension project is completed. Bruce Power will spend CAD13bn to refurbish six of the eight nuclear reactors at the Bruce nuclear station.
The report said: “The plan to refurbish [the Bruce nuclear station] will provide Ontario with an annual contribution of 22,000 jobs and CAD 4 bn in economic benefit through direct and indirect spending on engineering, specialised equipment, materials, and labour income.
“It will also ensure our grid has access to reliable, clean, affordable energy into the future.”
The chamber said the government should promote Ontario’s nuclear expertise domestically and abroad. It said strong, consistent government support for Ontario’s nuclear operations and supply chain through assured investment in our domestic technology and expertise is essential to establishing confidence in Canada’s nuclear products and services internationally.
The chamber called on the energy ministry to work with the federal government to ensure Canada remains a leader in nuclear expertise and innovation, and the nuclear sector continues to be an economic driver for Ontario.
Last week, Trumina Velshi, the incoming president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, said the success of nuclear power plant refurbishment programmes in Canada will allow all of North America’s nuclear industry to draw on Canadian talent and technology as they refurbish their ageing nuclear fleet.
The report is online: https://bit.ly/2utDWE8
