Project Overview
Bruce Power’s units 1&2 are 750 MWe CANDU reactors located on the Bruce peninsula in Ontario, Canada. Pressurized heavy water reactors of this type require a major midlife refurbishment that includes the replacement of components in the core. Units 1&2 were due to be refurbished in the 1990s, but refurbishment was deferred and the units shutdown because at that time the region had an excess of power available.
In 2005, with a deficit of power looming in the province, Bruce Power decided to restart and refurbish the units including replacement of the pressure and calandria tubes and steam generators as well as many other updating tasks.
With work estimated at $2.75 billion, at its peak times it was the largest infrastructure project in Canada.
The units were restarted in 2012 following 24 million hours of work without a single acute lost-time injury.
The restarts enabled Ontario to close its remaining coal fired plants and to completely remove coal from its generation mix. It is expected that they will remain operational until 2043.
How We Helped
We worked with the client from when they formed the idea that they would restart the units ultimately becoming the Project Management Contractor. We were also a major provider of engineering services.
As the Project Management Contractor, we were responsible for delivering the entire project on behalf of Bruce Power including managing all the construction contracts that Bruce Power had placed. Specific responsibilities included:
- Health and Safety
- Human Resources
- Risk management
- Contract management
- Engineering
- Facilities and services
- Construction Oversight
- Maintenance and commissioning
- Project Control and Scheduling
Working closely with Bruce Power we;
- Developed a team approach respecting the aspirations of all the construction partners and focusing on project success
- Created a construction island in which all contractors operated to the same processes and procedures
- Trained all project staff and contractor staff
- Rationalized the engineering design and change control processes enabling all contractors to work efficiently together
We were very pleased to take a leading role in this strategic project demonstrating with all the construction partners that the nuclear industry could effectively deliver large and complex projects.
