Bruce Power has been approved to begin its 13-year major component replacement (MCR) programme, beginning with unit 6 in January 2020.
The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has verified Bruce Power’s final cost estimate for the project. The cost estimate for the unit 6 MCR was within the framework established in Bruce Power’s contract with the IESO, Bruce Power said in the statement.
The IESO has a verification and ongoing due diligence role on a permanent basis, prior to each MCR, the statement said. Bruce Power spokesman John Peevers said hiring will begin in 2019 of 2000 skilled workers to carry out the $2.185-billion project in 46 months. Bruce Power currently employs 4200 people. Another $554 million investment will be spent, one-time spending on tooling for refurbishment of all six reactors. That work will be staggered, until the final unit is completed in 2033. Cost overruns, if any, would be borne by the company, Peevers said.
Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program, which began in January 2016, remains “on time and on budget”, the company said. This has added more than 100 megawatts of additional capacity since 2016, the company said. The refurbishment is Canada’s largest infrastructure project, and its largest public-private partnership, the Bruce Power statement said.
