Skilled trades workers getting ‘critical’ training facility for Ontario nuclear plant refurbishment

Construction is well underway on a cutting-edge training facility at the Pickering nuclear plant to support the refurbishment of Units 5 to 8, which is expected to begin in early 2027.

The training hub will be “critical” to training the more than 2,800 skilled trades workers needed to execute Ontario Power Generation’s refurbishment project in Pickering, said Samad Kasaai, OPG’s Vice-President, Major Projects.

“It ensures our staff are fully equipped with the skills and confidence needed to deliver a successful refurbishment of Pickering Units 5 to 8,” he explained, adding the facility is an investment in “workplace readiness and safety.”

The new 200,000-square-foot Retube Feeder and Boiler Replacement Training and Mock-up facility is a purpose-built space not unlike the full-scale reactor mock-up facility that trained workers for OPG’s Darlington nuclear refurbishment, which was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

The new, dedicated facility will feature detailed mock-ups of the Pickering reactor design and its components and provide a training mock-up of Pickering’s lower boiler assembly, a unique aspect to the refurbishment.

In addition to the reactor mock-ups, the facility will also include steam generator boiler bottom mock-ups, training classrooms, a welding shop to provide comprehensive, hands-on learning opportunities, and space to safely store refurbishment components to support efficient project execution.

The training centre is scheduled for completion in December.

Once completed, the refurbished Pickering Nuclear will continue to provide reliable, low-carbon electricity for approximately two million homes and provide more than 30,000 jobs per year during the refurbishment period and 7,500 jobs per year during the life of the plant.

The dedicated facility will provide a training mock-up of Pickering’s lower boiler assembly, a unique aspect to the refurbishment in Pickering.