Bruce Power has reached a major milestone with the completion of the construction phase for its Unit 3 Major Component Replacement (MCR) project.
The work, accomplished on budget and ahead of schedule, relied on innovative tooling and thousands of hours of careful, skilled labor from Ontario’s nuclear workforce and tradespeople.
Attention now turns to bringing the upgraded unit back online in the coming months, ensuring it can continue powering homes, hospitals, and businesses across the province for decades while supporting economic growth amid rising electricity demand.
Once operational, Unit 3 will generate enough clean energy to supply a city the size of Brampton for the next 35 years, at a time when the Independent Electricity System Operator forecasts electricity demand could grow by 75 per cent.
“Unit 3’s Major Component Replacement is another powerful example of Ontario’s nuclear advantage in action,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “Ontario’s skilled trades and nuclear workforce delivered this milestone, strengthening our energy self-reliance. This investment powers 22,000 jobs, adds $4 billion to our economy, and ensures clean, reliable electricity for decades — a made-in-Canada success story driving Ontario’s future.”
Later this month, Bruce Power operations staff will begin refueling Unit 3 with 5,760 fuel bundles, while completing inspections and other final activities needed to reconnect the unit to Ontario’s electricity grid.
“Completing the construction phase of Unit 3’s Major Component Replacement is a major step forward for Ontario’s clean energy future,” said Eric Chassard, Bruce Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to the safe, high quality and disciplined work of our people, skilled trades and partners -- and the innovative tooling that’s delivering step improvements in nuclear refurbishment performance -- we’re now focused on returning this renewed unit to service on budget and ahead of schedule.”
Unit 3 is the second of six reactors scheduled for refurbishment between 2020 and 2033. These privately funded upgrades, which include Units 3 through 8, will extend the operational life of the site for at least 40 more years. Work on Unit 4 began in February 2025, and Unit 5 is set to start in November 2026. The IESO is also exploring the possibility of a second refurbishment for Units 1 and 2 in the future.
“Delivering strong performance on a project of this scale is the result of relentless focus on safety, disciplined execution, and the ability to innovate,” said Laurent Seigle, Executive Vice-President, Projects. “By applying lessons learned, investing in new tooling, and working as one team with our partners and skilled trades, we continue to raise the bar with each Major Component Replacement, improving schedule certainty, quality, and efficiency while setting the foundation for the units that follow.”
The construction phase involved removing and replacing 480 fuel channels, 960 end fittings, and eight massive steam generators, with work completed safely by Bruce Power and a team of construction partners including Shoreline Power Group, SGRT, BWXT, ES Fox, ATS, Framatome, Kinectrics, and Mammoet.
“Bruce Power and Building Trades workers are securing the future of the province’s clean energy supply,” said Marc Arsenault, Business Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario. “Together, we’re completing refurbishments safely, with quality, and on schedule, securing good jobs and helping to drive the economy.”
Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program, along with its MCR projects, will extend the life of each reactor by 30 to 35 years, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting Ontario’s clean energy goals. The program also ensures a reliable supply of medical isotopes for decades.
“In Huron-Bruce, skilled trades are supported on so many different levels. The progress on Unit 3 is a reminder that it’s not just an energy project, it’s a lasting investment in people, communities, and the economy,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce. “The Clean Energy Frontier Region sees first-hand the benefits of nuclear refurbishment through well-paying skilled jobs, local business opportunities, and long-term confidence that Ontario will have the reliable electricity it needs as demand grows.”
Bruce Power’s refurbishment and life-extension initiatives are expected to generate billions in economic benefits each year, directly and indirectly supporting 22,000 jobs while injecting $4 billion into Ontario’s economy.
