US-based nuclear services provider BWX Technologies (BWXT) has secured over C$1bn ($693.6m) in contracts to support two key nuclear projects in Canada for Ontario Power Generation (OPG).
The projects include the life extension project at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station and deploying a new small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington site.
Recently, the Ontario government approved OPG’s plan to refurbish the ageing Pickering Nuclear Generating Station’s ‘B’ units.
As per the first contract, BWXT will produce 48 steam generators for the Pickering life extension project at its Cambridge facility.
The contract will create over 250 skilled trade jobs, including welders, fitters, machinists, engineers, and support staff.
The project will span more than seven years, with a large portion booked in Q4 2024.
BWXT will carry out the work for CanAtom, a joint venture between AtkinsRéalis and Aecon. CanAtom had recently bagged a C$2.1bn ($1.46bn) contract from OPG.
The second contact won by BWXT is for manufacturing a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s BWRX-300 SMR.
BWXT is said to be the first North American manufacturer to work on this SMR technology. This order was booked in Q2 2024.
BWXT commercial operations president John MacQuarrie said: “The BWXT team stands ready to help our customers and Ontario create a future that provides abundant, emissions-free electricity, while increasing sustainable, good-paying jobs for Canada.”
The Pickering Life Extension Program is in its early stages and is expected to extend the operation of the Pickering ‘B’ reactor fleet by 30 years.
The project is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s. Pickering, with its four operating CANDU reactors, provides around 10% of Ontario’s electricity needs.
The BWRX-300, part of the OPG Darlington New Nuclear Project, is set to be the first on-grid SMR in G7 nations.
This 300MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR features passive safety systems and builds on the design and licensing foundation of GEH’s US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-certified Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR).
OPG president and CEO Nicolle Butcher said: “Ontario’s robust nuclear supply chain, including trusted partners like BWXT, will help ensure these large nuclear projects have the components necessary to complete these projects on time, on budget, safely and with quality.”
Earlier this month, BWXT agreed to acquire Kinectrics, a provider of engineering, testing, and consulting services, for up to $525m.
