Planning for Decommissioning of Ontario Power Generation's Nuclear Facilities

Abstract

Ontario Power Generation owns and operates nuclear generating stations at Pickering and Darlington and has leased Bruce generating stations A and B to Bruce Power (who will return them to OPG once the lease expires). OPG owns and operates interim radioactive waste management facilities on the Bruce site and used fuel storage facilities at Pickering and Bruce sites and plans are underway to design and build a similar facility on the Darlington site by 2007. OPG will decommission all these facilities when they are shutdown permanently. Planning for decommissioning at OPG started in the early 1980's when various options were conceived, subsequently developed and suitable strategies was formulated. OPG's plans for decommissioning the nuclear generating stations are to shutdown and store the stations in a safe storage mode for 30 years, followed by dismantling and site restoration. Plans for decommissioning of OPG's interim radioactive waste management facilities will involve: removal of the stored waste, re-packaging if required and transporting the waste to a long-term facility followed by dismantling the facilities and site restoration. The costs for decommissioning OPG's nuclear facilities are estimated based on the above plans, collected through electricity rates from customers and deposited in a decommissioning fund. This paper examines some of the decommissioning options considered, provides details of OPG's decommissioning strategy, gives cost estimates, and outlines OPG's achievements towards meeting its liabilities and fulfilling the regulatory requirements with respect to decommissioning.