Pickering Nuclear Generating Station
June 2023: Ontario Power Generation has submitted an application to extend commercial operation of Units 5–8 at the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station until December 31, 2026. The current licence does not allow commercial operation beyond December 31, 2024.
A public Commission hearing will be held June 19-20, 2024.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) owns and is licensed to operate the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (NGS), located in the city of Pickering (Municipality of Durham) on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
OPG currently holds a 10-year operating licence for the Pickering NGS, which expires on August 31, 2028. The current licence does not allow operations beyond December 31, 2024.
Photo courtesy of Ontario Power Generation
| Location: | Pickering, Ontario |
|---|---|
| Licensee: | Ontario Power Generation |
| Reactor type: | CANDU (CANada Deuterium Uranium) |
| Vendor: | Atomic Energy of Canada Limited |
| Number of units: | 8 reactors |
| Installed capacity: | 3,100 MW |
| Status: |
Units 1 and 4: Operating Units 2 and 3: Safe storage Units 5, 6, 7 and 8: Operating |
| Licence issued: | September 1, 2018 |
| Licence expires: | August 31, 2028 |
| Start of operation: | Between 1971 and 1973 for Pickering units 1 to 4 and 1983 and 1986 for units 5 to 8 |
| Licensing documentation: | Request a copy of Pickering Nuclear Generating Station licence and licence conditions handbook by email at cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca |
| Facility website: | Ontario Power Generation |
Latest news
Commission proceedings
The Commission is an independent administrative tribunal set up at arm’s length from government, without ties to the nuclear industry. Use the links below to find documents related to Commission meetings or hearings.
- August 8, 2023: Notice of Public Hearing and Participant Funding – Ontario Power Generation (OPG) – Request for authorization to operate Pickering NGS Units 5 to 8 beyond December 31, 2024
- December 12, 2022: Record of Decision- Application to Extend Deadline under PROL 48.01/2028 Licence Conditions 15.1 and 15.4 Related to the End of Commercial Operations for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station
- December 6, 2022: Record of Decision - Application for Acceptance of Ontario Power Generation’s Revised Consolidated Financial Guarantee
- November 24, 2022: Record of Decision - Ontario Power Generation - Application to extend the deadline for filing documents related to the end of commercial operations for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station
- November 1, 2022: Record of Decision – Ontario Power Generation - Application for Acceptance of Ontario Power Generation’s Revised Consolidated Financial Guarantee
Regulatory actions
The CNSC posts regulatory enforcement actions taken to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment. Use the links below to find out more about any orders or penalties that have been placed on this licensee, if any.
- June 13, 2024: Letter to OPG
- May 31, 2023: Administrative monetary penalty issued
Disclosure
Licensees must report events and incidents involving licensed activities that could impact the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment to the CNSC. Use the links below to find any information provided by this licensee, if any, as well as other public disclosures made by licensees.
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Event reports
(source: Ontario Power Generation) -
Disclosure protocol
(source: Ontario Power Generation)
Engagement
- November 18, 2022: CNSC staff presentation to Durham Nuclear Health Committee on the 2021 Regulatory Oversight Report results for Pickering and Darlington NPPs
- December 12, 2016: CNSC staff present to Pickering City Council on the regulatory oversight for the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station and the upcoming relicensing process
- October and November 2016: CNSC staff make several presentations in the community on the regulatory oversight of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station
Related links
- Pressure tubes: The heart of the matter
- July 13, 2021: Darlington and Pickering NGS: Request pursuant to Subsection 12(2) of the General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations: Issues Relating to Measurement of Hydrogen Concentration in Pressure Tubes
- November 2016: Protocol between Ontario Power Generation and the CNSC for the Pickering Waste Management Facility
Protecting Canadians and the environment
Environment
The CNSC uses information provided by licensees to create our own reports assessing the environmental effects of nuclear facilities or licensed activities.
- Environmental monitoring: Independent environmental monitoring results collected by the CNSC
- Environmental risk assessment: Email cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca to request a copy
- Federal, provincial and municipal monitoring programs: List of monitoring programs managed by other levels of government
- Radionuclide releases – nuclear power plants: Dataset in Canada’s Open Government catalogue including information on releases from this facility
Health and safety
The CNSC oversees licensee emergency planning and works with other levels of government to ensure the health and safety of Canadians. We also conduct and review health studies on various areas associated with the production, possession or use of nuclear substances.
- Emergency Management Ontario
- OPG nuclear safety and emergency preparedness
- CNSC health studies on Canadian nuclear facilities: Relevant health studies of nuclear reactors regulated by the CNSC
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