OPG’s Avneet Nijjar leading within Nuclear Projects by applying outside-the-box thinking

Recently, all of her skills, expertise, and leadership abilities were put to the ultimate test, as she helped execute a first-of-a-kind project at Pickering Nuclear in record time.

While collaborating with departments across the plant and company, Nijjar was part of a team that worked around the clock to craft a plan to inject an Advanced Scale Conditioning Agent (ASCA) in all 12 boilers at Pickering’s Unit 8 – the first time such an approach has been executed in Canada and in a CANDU reactor.

Did you know? Boilers in a nuclear generating station help produce high-pressure steam, which is then used to generate electricity.

The innovative project was a great success, as the chemical helped break down an accumulation of deposits inside the boilers to ensure they and the unit continued to work reliably, safely, and optimally.

Typically, such a project would normally be completed over two years. But the team, led by OPG project leaders Stefan Surdu, Rajkumar Ramaswamy, and Khashayar Fatemi, worked closely with vendor partners and collaborated with many work groups across OPG to get the job done in just seven months.

As a member of the young, enthusiastic team, Nijjar pushed herself to the limit and thought outside-the-box to help the group deliver this ambitious project. The experience also captured everything she loves about projects in general.

“In this case, because of such a compressed timeline, we had to employ a different contracting approach to act as the integrator for multiple vendor partners, as well as regulatory approvals, qualification testing, and production support,” she said. “It was challenging at times, especially leading up to the execution, just to make sure everything was in place. But once we saw the result, it was a great feeling to see all our work make a difference.”

With the Pickering ASCA project a success, it can now serve as a blueprint for similar applications across the nuclear industry, including at OPG’s Darlington Nuclear.

Nijjar is also using her experience to expand her career horizons.

She recently started a new role as a Senior Specialist in Nuclear Portfolio Management for Nuclear Projects, which involves managing the entire nuclear project portfolio across OPG.

Whether big or small, she envisions she will always be involved in projects to some capacity.

“With projects, every day is different and dynamic. There are many different aspects you get to be involved with, including cost, scope, and schedule, and you’re doing a little bit of business negotiation while working with teams,” she said. “Every project is different, and every team is different. Just seeing the impact you can have on others and on a project through how you interact with them, it’s nice.”

As she advances her career, Nijjar says she is encouraged by the increase in female representation and racialized employees across OPG and the wider industry, adding that she hopes she can be an example for others.

She only needs to look at the top of the company to be inspired.

“Our Chief Projects Officer, Subo Sinnathamby, is very inspiring,” Nijjar said. “She is our first female in the role, a woman of colour, and a mom like me. Her example lets you know that you can have work-life balance and find success. Her example makes it possible.”