Ontario Marks Completion of Darlington Unit 1 Refurbishment Project Five Months Ahead of Schedule

Unit 1 set to deliver clean, reliable and affordable nuclear power for an additional 30-plus years

NEWS: Ontario is announcing the completion of the refurbishment of Unit 1 at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station five months ahead of schedule, marking a significant milestone in the province’s plan to tackle soaring demand for energy. Refurbishing and returning Unit 1 to service provides 875 megawatts (MW) of reliable, affordable and clean power for the next 30-plus years, enough to power 875,000 homes.

The Darlington Refurbishment Project is one of Canada’s largest energy projects. The refurbishment of Unit 1 involved the successful removal and replacement of major components of the reactor and its associated equipment including pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder pipes, as well as inspection and upgrades of the Turbine Generator equipment.

According to an independent report by the Conference Board of Canada, the $12.8 billion project, and the subsequent 30 years of station operation, are expected to generate a total of $90 billion in economic benefits for Ontario and create 14,200 jobs per year. With 96 per cent of project costs spent in the province, for every $1 spent on the project, Ontario’s GDP will increase by an average of $1.40.