The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) yesterday announced its decision to grant a new ten-year operating licence for Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Pickering plant. The plant is scheduled to operate until the end of 2024.
OPG applied to the CNSC for a licence renewal for the six-unit plant in August 2017, following the government of Ontario’s approval in January 2016 of the plant’s continued operation to 2024 to ensure a reliable source of low-carbon electricity while major refurbishment work is under way at OPG’s Darlington plant. The first two units – Pickering 1 and 4 – are planned to close in 2020, with units 5-8 closing in 2024. Pickering 2 and 3 have remained in safe shutdown since 1997.
The CNSC said its decision following a two-part public hearing earlier this year was based on OPG’s stated intent to cease commercial operations at Pickering on 31 December 2024. This is to be followed by post-shutdown activities and stabilisation work to 2028. The commercial operation of any Pickering reactor unit beyond 2024 would require further authorisation from the Commission, it said.
World Nuclear News – August 9, 2018.
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