Pickering Nuclear Generating Station

We would not continue to operate if we could not do so safely.

A previous study has shown Pickering Nuclear Generating Station can run safely beyond 2025. Beyond that, we take hundreds, if not thousands, of measurements daily to validate the integrity of various systems. Every day, we demonstrate our safety through our operations, with CNSC staff on site to ensure we are meeting their rigorous requirements and standards. Our people live and work in Pickering and surrounding communities, and public and environmental safety is more than a top priority; it is part of who we are.

Over the next year, OPG will submit a licence application to the CNSC, to request approval to operate Pickering Units 5-8 past the currently approved date of December 31, 2024. The CNSC, which employs a rigorous and transparent decision-making process, will make the final decision regarding Pickering’s safe operating life.

Even if a decision is made to refurbish Units 5 – 8, our organization will change as we remove Pickering units from service, place Units 1 and 4 into safe storage, and layup Units 5 – 8 until we are ready to execute refurbishment scope. OPG's workforce in coming years, whether Pickering operations are ended or paused, will be different. OPG will continue to prepare the company and our workforce for the future beyond 2025.

We may not know exactly what the future holds, but we are preparing for all possibilities. The programs and processes that we are establishing today, including redeployment provisions, are flexible and will enable us to pivot as our work programs evolve. We will continue to move through this planning to prepare employees and our business for this transition. This includes assisting those employees whose positions will be surplus by supporting them in creating individual career pathways.

We will share our plans first with employees, then with the community, as decisions are made.

The feasibility study on Pickering refurbishment will consider a number of matters, including:

• Technical assessments of all major components 
• Condition assessments of balance of plant components 
• Technical feasibility and scope 
• Business and economic viability compared to potential alternatives 
• Skilled workforce availability 
• Material availability, and
• Environmental and regulatory considerations.

Yes, the Pickering Refurbishment project was previously initiated in 2006. An approved Environmental Assessment (EA) was received for the project in 2009. Several major factors were considered at the time, including the challenges of securing long-lead time supply chain products as well as resourcing, given the timelines of Darlington refurbishment and the Bruce Power major component replacement program. OPG subsequently paused the project to focus on continued operations of the station.

We know, since we last considered this, some of the context has changed, including that: 

• Darlington refurbishment has recapitalized and revitalized the supply chain and well-trained workforce necessary to complete this type of work.
• Darlington refurbishment will be complete in 2026, freeing up many workers with the skills and experience necessary to refurbish a CANDU nuclear power plant.
• Climate change has become a much more pressing issue, and we know we can’t get to net-zero without nuclear energy.

OPG expects to complete the feasibility study over the course of the next year. This study will build on previous work completed for the Pickering Refurbishment project. As scope has not yet been determined, we can’t provide a cost estimate at this time.

As the world around us continues to rapidly change, jurisdictions everywhere are acting to secure their energy independence while also addressing the growing impacts of climate change on their communities. Ontario is uniquely positioned to continue to lead the way in climate action and grow our economy because of our diverse electricity system, robust supply chains, and highly skilled workforce. But a growing economy will need a stable supply of more clean power and a reliable grid that can support electrification of other sectors like transportation and heavy industry. As an abundant source of carbon-free electricity that’s available at all times of the day and year, the role of nuclear is more vital than ever.

Nuclear power is the backbone of Ontario’s electricity system, providing approximately 60% of the province’s power.

Through the ongoing investments and efforts of our employees, Pickering is seeing its strongest performance ever, including achieving its highest yearly production output and its best equipment reliability ratings. In 2021, Units 4 and 6 ranked among the top 10 CANDU reactors in the world. The station’s strong operational and safety performance is also recognized by the CNSC and industry peers. 

Continued operations of Units 5 – 8 through the summer of 2026 will have many benefits to customers, the economy and the environment, including:

• Reducing CO₂ emissions by 2.1 megatonnes in 2026 – the equivalent of taking up to 643,000 cars off the road.
• Protecting 4,500 jobs for an additional year-plus.
• Ensuring a stable supply of Cobalt 60, a critical medical isotope used in lifesaving medicine (Pickering provides 20% of the North American supply – and 10% of the world’s supply).

OPG is in a great position to refurbish Pickering. No one knows our station better than our employees, and we have demonstrated our ability to bring in large projects like refurbishment on time and on budget. But, it’s also important to recognize that deciding to assess the feasibility of refurbishing Pickering Units 5 – 8 is the first step of a significant and complex undertaking.

We’re always here to answer questions. If you’d like to learn more about the station or nuclear power in general, you can drop by our public information center or by completing our Contact Us form.