Bruce Power signs deals with RCMT and Laker Energy

Early in January, Bruce Power and RCM Technologies Canada Corp. entered into contracts valued at more than $1.5-million for the nuclear-generating company's life-extension program at the Bruce Nuclear site in the Municipality of Kincardine.

Bruce Power has also initiated the agreement with Laker Energy Products to supply feeder pipe material for the Major Component Replacement (MCR) program at the site.

The Major Component Replacement Lead In, Lead Out Program, part of Bruce Power’s life-extension program, is responsible for the activities that will take the unit from an operational state to one that allows the refurbishment work to be executed, and then brings the unit back to operation during Bruce Power’s major component replacements.

“Working together with the Bruce Power team, RCM has been very successful in the previous phase of these design projects," said Marwan Zayouna, director of projects, RCM Technologies. "We are very excited to continue supporting Bruce Power on this major effort in preparation of the MCR programs."

RCM Technologies Canada Corp. will provide primary heat transport drain-and-dry detailed design engineering, and moderator drain-and-dry detailed design engineering, which involves the creation of detailed drawings and documentation necessary to establish procurement and execution packages for the project and input needed for planning and estimation of the work in readiness for the Unit 6 MCR in 2020.

“This partnership with RCMT allows us to proceed with the timely generation of detailed information that will provide the basis for the execution phase of the project,” said Brock Leighton, senior program manager, Lead In, Lead Out, Bruce Power MCR. “This important work will create a work environment that allows our crews to perform the MCR scopes of the project safely and efficiently.”

Meanwhile, Bruce Power and Laker Energy Products Ltd. have entered into an agreement for feeder pipe material for the Bruce B Unit 6 MCR project. This is the first release under the $35-million material purchase agreement signed between Bruce Power and Laker, Dec. 4, 2015.

“The rejuvenation of Ontario’s nuclear fleet has economic spin-offs all across Ontario, including Oakville where we’ve invested in our business through innovative new equipment, tooling and additional staff," said Chris Hughes, president and chief executive officer, Laker Energy Products.

“This agreement marks a major milestone achievement for the Unit 6 feeder replacement program which includes the replacement of 960 primary heat transport feeders,” said Kyle Cherrett, senior program manager, feeders program, Bruce Power MCR. “We achieved this milestone ahead of schedule and will continue this positive momentum throughout the life of the program.”

The feeder pipe material will be used to fabricate the feeder tubes to be installed in Unit 6 starting in 2020. The feeders are an integral part of the reactor’s primary heat transport system which circulates pressurized heavy water through the reactor fuel channels to remove the heat energy generated by fission of uranium fuel.

"Laker Energy is a vital part of Ontario’s economy, and one of the 180 companies across Ontario contributing to the refurbishment of our nuclear generating stations.” said Ontario energy minister Glenn Thibeault. “That supply-chain will create thousands of high-tech manufacturing jobs in every corner of the province and boost local economic growth.”

Extending the life of the Bruce Power site will ensure the electricity it provides Ontario families and businesses continues to be part of the solution over both the short- and long-term to provide a source of low-cost stable electricity.

Bruce Power generates 30 per cent of Ontario’s electricity at 30 per cent below the average residential cost. In fact, in 2016, Bruce Power was paid 6.6 cents per kWh for its electricity, while the average residential price was about 11 cents per kWh.

The operation of the Bruce site through 2064 will create and sustain 22,000 direct and indirect jobs annually, while creating $4-billion in annual Ontario economic benefit through labour income and the direct and indirect spending on equipment, supplies and materials from hundreds of small, medium and large suppliers. All of this investment will be met by Bruce Power’s owners and investors with over 90 per cent spent in Ontario.

The life extension program, which remains on-time and on-budget, started Jan. 1, 2016 when Bruce Power began the next phase of investments in its site to optimize asset life, to prepare for future work to replace major reactor components and also to carry out plant upgrades and enhancements in a methodical, carefully-planned manner.