CONSULTING

ebuilding its Gentilly-2 nuclear at over CAD3 billion (US$3 billion). The company estimated the
cost of electricity post life-extension would be 10.8 CAD cents/kWh. As result—also giving in to
political pressure—Hydro-Quebec decided to close the Gentilly-2 reactor instead of rebuilding
it. 389
In 2010, Ontario Power Generation (OPG, formerly Ontario Hydro) announced it would not
rebuild the four Pickering “B” reactors at the end of their design life. OPG estimated the cost of
electricity post rebuilt at approximately 10 CAD cents/kWh. 390 Previously, OPG had announced in
2005, it would permanently shut down two reactors at the Pickering “A” nuclear station due to
“the costs and the risks” of restarting them. 391
In total, nine of Canada’s 22 CANDU Generation II reactors have been closed, or are set for closure,
due to the high cost of CANDU life-extension.
The Ontario government’s 2013 Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP) committed to rebuilding and
extending the lives of ten reactors at the Darlington and Bruce nuclear stations. The LTEP also
stated the six operating Pickering units were “expected to be in service until 2020” but with an
earlier shutdown “possible depending on projected demand going forward, the progress of the
fleet refurbishment program, and the timely completion of the Clarington Transformer Station”. 392
In December 2015, the Ontario government announced it had reached an agreement with Bruce
Power, a private company that leases the Bruce nuclear site from state-owned OPG, to rebuild and
extend the lives of six reactors at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station (NGS). 393 Commencement
of work on the first reactor was delayed from 2016 to 2020 compared to the 2013 LTEP schedule.
Bruce Power received a five-year licence for the Bruce A and B nuclear stations in 2015, but in
making its decision the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) noted: “Refurbishment was
not considered in the context of this hearing. The Commission wishes to be clear that, in the event
of an application for refurbishment at the Bruce NGS, this application will be considered at a public
proceeding with public participation.” 394
In January 2016, the Ontario government announced, it would allow OPG to proceed with the
CAD12.8 billion (US$18.5 billion) life-extension plan for the four Darlington units, with work to
389 Hydro-Québec, “Projet de réfection de la centrale nucléaire Gentilly-2”, 2 October 2012, see
http://nouvelles.hydroquebec.com/media/filer_private/2012/12/17/etat_de_situation_1.pdf, accessed
9 June 2016.
390 OPG response to questions posed by Shawn-Patrick Stensil after a mediation held on 28 July 2010, in
Freedom of Information request no. 100007, Energy Analyst, Greenpeace Canada. Information quoted in
Pembina Foundation and Greenpeace Canada, “Renewable is Doable”, September 2013, see
http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/Global/canada/report/2013/09/GPC_ENERGY_PLAN2013.pdf, accessed
6 July 2016.
391 Ontario Power Generation, “Annual Report 2006”, p.22, see
www.opg.com/about/finance/Documents/2006_Annual_Report.pdf, accessed 6 July 2016.
392 Ministry of Energy, “Achieving Balance—Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan”, December 2013.
393 Government of Ontario, “Ontario Commits to Future in Nuclear Energy”, Ministry of Energy,
Press Release, 3 December 2015, see https://news.ontario.ca/mei/en/2015/12/ontario-commits-to-future-innuclear-energy.html,
accessed 16 June 2016.
394 CNSC, “Record of Proceedings, Including reasons for Decision in the Matter of Application to Renew the
Power Reactor Operating Licences for Bruce A and Bruce B Nuclear Generating Stations”, 2015, p. 5, see
http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/the-commission/pdf/2015-04-14-CompleteDecision-BrucePower-eedoc4798838.pdf,
accessed 9 June 2016.
Mycle Schneider, Antony Froggatt et al. 122 World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2016