Bruce Power Mobilizes Ontario Support Network

Bruce Power hosted a successful supplier summit in Kincardine recently with over 200 participants, with a goal of mobilizing the many Ontario-based firms that will provide essential services to meet both the ongoing safe, reliable operation of the company and future investment programs, including refurbishment.

The summit focused on the importance of working together to extend the life of our units as Bruce prepares for the first refurbishment, along with highlighting the commitment of ongoing and active collaboration with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), while continuing to ensure a positive role in the community and investing in aboriginal communities.

“It’s important to mobilize all of our Ontario-based suppliers to discuss the future of Bruce Power, our ongoing planned maintenance outage programs, site facility and infrastructure upgrades and the life-extension activities that will all lead up to the first Major Component Replacement in Unit 6, starting in 2020,” said Richard Horrobin, vice president, commercial services, finance and commercial services. “Bruce Power relies on our suppliers and contractors to be successful, so the opportunity to share expectations and ideas was welcome”.

Both current and prospective suppliers heard from Bruce Power’s acting president, chief nuclear officer and the vice presidents of outage and maintenance services, major projects, project management and construction, facilities, commercial services and supply chain, among others.

On 3 December 2015, Bruce Power and the Independent Electricity System Operator entered into an amended, long-term agreement to secure 6,300 megawatts of electricity from the Bruce Power site, through a multi-year investment program. The amended agreement will enable the company to progress with a series of incremental life-extension investments, including refurbishment, to secure a clean, reliable and affordable source of electricity for Ontario families and businesses for decades to come, as outlined in Ontario’s 2013 Long-Term Energy Plan.

Bruce B turbine hall

The amended agreement will allow Bruce Power to immediately invest in life-extension activities for Units 3-8 to support a long-term refurbishment program, optimizing the operational life of the site and offering significant ratepayer and system benefits.

The program will secure an estimated 18,000 jobs directly and indirectly from operations, and an additional 3,000-5,000 jobs annually throughout the investment program, injecting billions into Ontario’s economy as outlined in an Economic Impact Study, released in 2013.