Ontario Construction News staff writer
Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program and Major Component Replacement (MCR) Project has reached a significant milestone. All eight massive steam generators have now been successfully installed into Unit 3, advancing the project aimed at ensuring the continued delivery of clean and reliable electricity to Ontario’s homes, businesses, and hospitals.
The final step of this monumental process took place on February 12, when a steam drum was carefully set atop a row of steam generators, capping off a series of high-precision lifts. The Unit 3 MCR outage, which began in 2023, remains on track as Bruce Power and its partners prepare to return the renewed unit to service in 2026. This is crucial as Ontario’s electricity needs are projected to increase by as much as 75% over the coming decades.
“This milestone demonstrates the success of our team in executing steam generator replacements safely, on time, and with excellent quality,” said Aaron Johnson, senior vice-president of Nuclear at Aecon Group Inc. “As the construction partner for SGRT, Aecon is playing a key role in creating jobs, generating economic opportunities, and expanding Ontario’s nuclear supply chain.”
For the past six months, Bruce Power has collaborated with the Steam Generator Replacement Team (SGRT) – a joint venture between Aecon and SGT (Framatome Canada Ltd. and United Canadian Operations Ltd.) – to complete the highly complex task. The team utilized Mammoet’s towering PTC-35 crane, standing over 100 meters high, to lift the 100-tonne steam generators into position. The first phase involved removing the 300-tonne steam drums from the unit via a track system, setting them aside for maintenance and inspection.
“This was a huge undertaking that required more than a year-and-a-half of planning just to get to the execution phase,” said Rob Hoare, Bruce Power’s Vice President of MCR Execution. “The success of this operation was made possible through exceptional collaboration and dedication from our team and our partners.”
The Unit 3 steam generator replacement serves as a prime example of how the nuclear industry is bolstering Ontario’s economy. Nearly 97% of the project’s $250-million budget is being spent on local labor and materials, ensuring that the benefits of the work stay within the province. SGRT’s peak workforce included approximately 425 people, with 320 skilled tradespeople among them.
Though the steam generators were initially produced by BWXT in Cambridge about 20 years ago, they were stored at the Bruce Power site in preparation for this moment. In addition to the Unit 3 replacements, Bruce Power is moving ahead with plans for further steam generator replacements as part of the broader MCR project. Last August, Bruce Power and SGRT signed a $700-million contract to replace steam generators in Units 5, 7, and 8.
“We’re proud to partner with Bruce Power and provide a heavy lift solution for moving these massive components,” said Alex Scott, Mammoet Global Commercial Manager, Nuclear. “Our specialized services are key to delivering Bruce Power’s Major Component Replacement Project, ensuring that Ontario continues to benefit from clean electricity for decades to come.”
As the Bruce Power MCR project moves forward, the collaboration between partners and the skilled workforce remains a cornerstone of its success, ensuring that Ontario’s energy needs are met with sustainability and reliability well into the future.
