The Darlington SMR project’s first unit will not meet its previously disclosed October 2030 commercial-operation target or $7.7-billion estimate, Ontario Power Generation said in its November 10 third-quarter release.
OPG is reassessing costs and scheduling for the Clarington project. It expects that work to be substantially complete by mid-2027; it did not announce replacement figures.
The utility linked the pressure to continuing first-of-a-kind reactor engineering and resulting construction and supply-chain effects. Construction continues, with cooling-water tunnel preparations and turbine-building foundation work among the reported milestones.
Pickering preparations also progressing
At Pickering, preliminary refurbishment work, including defuelling, is underway after Units 5 to 8 left service in September. Construction is expected in early 2027, subject to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approval.
OPG reported quarterly shareholder net income of $155 million, down from $482 million a year earlier. It said the expected decline mainly reflected amounts from extended Pickering operations being returned to ratepayers.
The Darlington SMR reassessment is distinct from the recently announced supplier contracts. Updated cost and completion estimates remain unresolved.
