The Ontario government has announced that it is beginning discussions with Bruce Power about restarting the remaining two units at the Bruce plant.
There are eight Candu units at Bruce, each rated at around 700MWe. Units 4-8 (known as Bruce B) have been in regular operation. Units 3 and 4 were restarted after major refurbishment in 2003 and 2004.
Ontario’s aim in considering the restart is to replace coal-fired generation in the province – a commitment made by the new government and its energy minister Dwight Duncan. The 1540MWe provided by restarting Bruce 1 and 2 would replace 20% of the province’s coal-fired capacity. The provincial government has also announced that it plans to contract for 300MWe of renewable generation and refurbish another nuclear station, Pickering 1, rated at 515MWe. That plant could come back online by late 2005.
