Ontario Power to operate Pickering nuclear units until 2026

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has granted Ontario Power Generation (OPG) an extension to operate units 5 to 8 of the Pickering nuclear generating station (PNGS) until the end of 2026, extending the previous deadline of December 31, 2024. The extended permit allows OPG to run these units up to 305,000 equivalent full power hours (EFPH), an increase from the previous 295,000 EFPH limit.

The amended licence includes a requirement for OPG to maintain an enhanced fitness-for-service programme. The decision followed a public hearing in Pickering in June 2024, where submissions from OPG, CNSC staff, and 54 intervenors were reviewed.

Pickering Nuclear Station, situated in Ontario, provides clean, affordable electricity to two million homes. Ontario Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce welcomed the extension, citing the station’s crucial role in meeting Ontario’s growing energy demands and producing life-saving medical isotopes for cancer treatment.

The PNGS recorded its highest generation output in 2023 since 2019, supported by OPG’s 4,500 staff. The Ontario government is also considering refurbishing the Pickering facility, with plans expected to be announced soon.