Bruce Power’s Unit 6 Major Component Replacement (MCR) Project reached a much-anticipated milestone Oct. 1 and the company is now embarking on the next stage of the nuclear reactor’s refurbishment.
Workers have completed the preparations to begin the major component replacement with the successful installation of protective shielding and 16 bulkheads, weighing over seven tons each, to isolate Unit 6 from the operating units.
“Reaching this milestone on plan under difficult conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic marks a pivotal moment in MCR,” said Eric Chassard, Bruce Power’s Executive Vice-President, Projects & Engineering.
With this work now complete, Shoreline, a joint venture comprised of Aecon, SNC-Lavalin and AECOM, will begin the Fuel Channel Feeder Replacement program, a key element of MCR that involves the removal and replacement of the major components: pressure tubes, calandria tubes, and feeders inside the reactor. The first group of trade workers from Shoreline was deployed into the Unit 6 reactor vault last week to execute work that had been moved up in the schedule.
Approximately 400 tradespeople have been hired by Shoreline over the past two months, while ATS Automation has delivered the robotic tooling, which will be used to replace components, to the MCR Training Facility in Kincardine, where workers have been preparing and training.
“After months of preparation, Shoreline is primed to successfully execute the next phase of this important project and Shoreline looks forward to continued success as we work with Bruce Power to deliver this vital project,” said Thomas Clochard, Senior Vice President and Executive Lead, Nuclear, Aecon, on behalf of Shoreline Power Group.
Patrick Dillon, Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, commended Bruce Power on reaching this milestone, particularly in light of COVID-19 challenges, adding that the Life-Extension Program, which includes replacement of major components on six of the Bruce site’s eight nuclear reactors, is the kind of commitment and investment that helps train Ontario’s skilled trades workforce.
“This project will result in an annual injection of $4 billion into Ontario’s economy while creating an additional 5,000 jobs across the province each year and allows Bruce Power to continue to provide clean, low-cost, reliable power and life-saving medical isotopes while strengthening local communities. Our skilled tradespeople participating in this project are ready for the next stage in the journey ahead, and look forward to delivering the project and securing our future.”
The Unit 6 MCR began in January before being put on hold during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project resumed in late spring with strict precautionary measures being instituted to keep workers and contractors safe. Bruce Power has expanded its safety protocols around the public health crisis, recently putting into place testing and screening of select company and supplemental staff, and contractors.
“Thanks to the combined efforts of our workers and the workers from our supply chain partners, our Unit 6 MCR has reached this important milestone on-time and on-budget,” said
Chassard. “With this critical milestone achieved, Shoreline is now taking over the vault in great conditions to deliver its scope and we look forward to the successful execution of this work, which will allow us to continue providing people and businesses across Ontario with reliable, low-cost, clean electricity for decades to come.”
