June 27, 2022 – Framatome was recently awarded a contract to provide full system decontamination at Bruce Power Units 3 and 4 as part of their Major Component Replacement (MCR) project. Adapting unique chemical decontamination technology developed globally, Framatome will localize it for use by its Canadian teams in the country’s CANDU reactors. The chemical process is undergoing qualification at Canadian Nuclear Labs, with current results yielding excellent results for decontamination factors.
“Our Framatome team combines global expertise and innovative adaptability as we develop our footprint in Canada and our partnership with Bruce Power,” said Catherine Cornand, senior executive vice president of Installed Base for Framatome. “We are committed to help ensure the long-term operations of Canada’s nuclear fleet, which provides low-cost, reliable, carbon-free electricity for citizens of Ontario and beyond.”
Full system decontamination using this optimized chemical process will be performed prior to refurbishment activities on-site at Units 3 and 4 in Tiverton, Ontario, significantly mitigating the dose and enhancing safety when accessing the units.
The full system decontamination project is currently in the design and procurement phase, with expected deployment at Unit 3 in April 2023 and at Unit 4 in August 2024. To date, Framatome teams have performed the conceptual and preliminary engineering phase in support of the project. This latest contract awards the remaining detailed engineering work, which is fully supported using Framatome’s Canadian engineering resources.
Framatome has successfully performed 36 full system decontamination applications globally using its chemical technology, and more than 500 decontaminations of pumps and systems since 1976.
The MCR project for Bruce Power Units 3 and 4 will add approximately 30 to 35 years of operational life, while other investments will add a combined 30 years of operational life to the units. Each one of Bruce Power’s reactors can generate enough low-cost, reliable, safe and carbon-free electricity to meet the annual needs of a city the size of Ottawa, Canada, with an estimated population of 1.18 million in 2022.