TORONTO — Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners, a partnership between Aecon and Kiewit Nuclear ӰԺ, has been awarded an alliance construction contract by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) for the execution phase on the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) in Clarington, Ont.
According to a press release, Aecon’s share of the contract is valued at approximately $1.3 billion.
Being executed under an Integrated Project Delivery model, the partners will work with OPG, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and AtkinsRéalis to deliver North America’s first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor (SMR).
The scope of work includes management, construction planning and execution, with completion and commercial operation expected in 2030.
Ontario and local politicians as well as representatives from OPG and the like gathered at the Darlington site to mark the start of construction of the SMR on May 8.
The first unit will cost $6.1 billion, along with costs for systems and services common to all four SMRs of $1.6 billion. Costs are expected to decline with each unit as efficiencies are gained, similar to the Darlington Refurbishment Project, a release notes.
“This is a historic day for ӰԺ as we start construction on the first small modular reactor in the G7, creating 18,000 jobs for Canadians,” said Stephen Lecce, minister of energy and mines, in a statement. “This nation-building project being built right here in Ontario will be led by Canadian workers using Canadian steel, concrete and materials to help deliver the extraordinary amount of reliable and clean power we will need to deliver on our ambitious plan to protect Ontario and unleash our economy.”
The BWRX-300 is a small-scale nuclear reactor that uses commercially available uranium to generate power, states the province. Once complete, the four SMRs will produce 1,200 megawatts of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of 1.2 million homes.
ʳ for the first SMR in December 2022. In July 2023, OPG began planning and licensing for three additional SMRs. ʳ from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in April.
In all, OPG has a $20.9 billion budget for the DNNP, which includes site preparation, engineering and design work to date, as well as the construction of all four small modular reactors.
The province anticipates the construction, operation and maintenance of the four units will add $38.5 billion to ӰԺ’s GDP over the next 65 years. The government has also worked with OPG to ensure 80 per cent of project spending goes to Ontario companies and “that construction and operations will protect Ontario workers and jobs by sustaining an estimated 3,700 highly-skilled, good-paying jobs for the next 65 years.”
More than have signed agreements with OPG to deliver the project. The government has also negotiated additional commitments from GE Hitachi that will create jobs in Ontario, that will soon be unveiled, the release highlights.
“OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project is a trailblazing undertaking – leading the way in delivering the next generation of nuclear plants across North America and internationally,” said Jean-Louis Servranckx, president and Chief Executive Officer with Aecon Group Inc. “Aecon is proud to bring its diverse nuclear expertise and multidisciplinary capabilities to play a prominent role in safely executing this exciting project to meet the energy demands of future generations in Ontario.”
Aecon is also the lead constructor for the three largest nuclear refurbishment projects in Ontario, including the Darlington Nuclear Refurbishment, the Pickering Nuclear Refurbishment and the Bruce Major Component Replacement program.
Ontario’s energy plan also includes exploring a new, large-scale plant at Bruce Power in Tiverton, Ont., the potential of a new nuclear plant near Port Hope, Ont., and refurbishing units at the Pickering nuclear plant to extend its lifespan.
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