Darlington Nuclear Unit 2 refurbishment construction now complete
OPG has marked another major milestone in the Darlington Refurbishment project – the successful completion of construction at Darlington’s Unit 2 reactor.
More than three years ago, OPG and its project partners began the execution phase on one of Canada’s largest clean energy projects with the goal of extending the operating life of Darlington Nuclear Generating Station to provide 30-plus more years of clean, low-cost, and reliable energy for the province.
Now, with Unit 2’s construction complete, we’re preparing to return the reconstructed reactor to service at a time when essential electricity is needed more than ever as the province fights through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“From day one, this project has been a team effort, driven by the unwavering support of refurbishment staff, hundreds of suppliers from across the province and our many talented vendor partners and union trade members,” said Dietmar Reiner, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Projects. “Thanks to everyone’s efforts, talent and expertise, we were able to complete Unit 2 construction during an unprecedented time for the province, country and, indeed, the world.”
“Thanks to everyone’s efforts, talent and expertise, we were able to complete Unit 2 construction during an unprecedented time for the province, country and, indeed, the world.”Dietmar Reiner, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Projects
At the best of times, meeting this milestone would have proved challenging. However, amidst the new difficulties posed by the virus outbreak, the project team worked to focus on the task at hand, adhering to increased health and safety measures during the final steps of construction.
“On behalf of all OPG employees, project partners and vendors, I want to thank our refurbishment team on completing the final steps of construction on Unit 2 under unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances,” said Ken Hartwick, OPG’s President and CEO. “Because of everyone’s collective efforts, we’re doing our part and meeting our commitments to keep the lights on for Ontario.”
With construction on Unit 2 complete, the unit will now begin the restart process before being connected to the electricity grid, subject to regulatory approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and OPG’s ability to do this safely given the current COVID-19 crisis.
The full four-unit Darlington Refurbishment project is scheduled for completion in 2026.
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