Meet the colossal crane doing the heavy lifting for the first SMR in the G7

At a glance

• OPG’s Darlington site is now home to the largest crawler crane in Canada.
• The colossal crane is doing some very heavy lifting for the G7’s first SMR, including recently lifting the close to 2.1-million-pound foundation module for the first unit.
• The big machine, capable of lifting up to 5.5 million pounds, will continue to be used to hoist more heavy components for the duration of the project.

At OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) site, the largest crawler crane in Canada is doing some important lifting.

In April, the LR 12500-1.0 crane completed a major lift for the G7’s first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor (SMR), as it hoisted and placed the close to 2.1-million-pound Basemat module – the foundation of the reactor building – into the newly excavated reactor building shaft, 35 metres below ground.

Now, with its substantial muscle and reach, this colossal crane is ready to do even more heavy lifting for the entire project.

As one of the most powerful lattice boom crawler cranes in the world, the big beast can lift up to 2,500 tons – 5.5 million pounds, or about the weight of about 525 elephants – and reach more than 200 metres – roughly the height of two stacked soccer fields.

Designed in collaboration with crane leaders Liebherr and Sarens, and operated by Sarens, it took several weeks to fully assemble the machine after it arrived on site in many pieces earlier this year. Additionally, the project team completed pile-support concrete foundations, which serve as a sturdy platform from which the crane can safely work from.

In the coming months, be sure to keep an eye out for more incredible lifts from this impressive machine.

An important project for Ontario’s future

Already, it’s been a busy year full of important milestones achieved for the DNNP.

The project team has completed all shaft excavation work. Two shafts will support the construction of the deep-water intake serving all four planned SMRs. The third provides the foundation for the first SMR unit.

Additionally, the project recently completed two warehouse facilities, providing the equivalent of one-and-a-half football fields of storage and laydown space for materials.

In late March, OPG also submitted its application for a Licence to Operate the first SMR unit to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, marking a significant milestone for the project.