TransCanada Expands Unit 4 Refurbishment on Bruce A

TransCanada Corporation has announced that Bruce Power and the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) have agreed to expand the scope of the Bruce A Restart and Refurbishment project by installing 480 new fuel channels in Unit 4.

Announced in October 2005, the $4.25 billion Bruce A Restart and Refurbishment project set out to deliver an additional 1,500 MW to the Ontario power grid by late 2009 or early 2010. Under the original plan, Bruce Power intended to install new steam generators in all four Bruce A units and replace the fuel channels in Units 1, 2 and 3. By replacing the fuel channels in Unit 4, Bruce Power will extend the expected operational life of the 750 MW unit from 2017 to 2036.

Under the revised plan, Bruce Power expects to invest an additional $1 billion, resulting in a total investment in the restart and refurbishment program of approximately $5.25 billion. TransCanada's share is expected to be approximately $2.625 billion.

"This expansion will align Unit 4's operating life with Bruce A's three other units, and extend Bruce A's ability to serve as a cost-competitive, long-term solution to help meet Ontario's power needs," said Hal Kvisle, TransCanada's president and chief executive officer. "The growing focus on emissions-free technology, together with our confidence in the Bruce Power organization, make this an ideal investment opportunity for us. The expanded scope of the project and our participation in it has been carefully structured to share risks and rewards and is consistent with our disciplined and prudent approach to long-term growth," he adds.

Bruce Power expects to complete the work on Units 3 and 4 by 2013. This will enable Bruce Power to apply processes and procedures consistent with the Unit 1 and 2 program. One of the largest engineering projects in North America, the Bruce A Restart program remains on budget and on schedule.

Under the revised agreement, the OPA may elect to proceed with a three unit restart program prior to April 1, 2008 under certain conditions. Those conditions include the OPA determining that there will be insufficient transmission to accommodate all eight Bruce Power units by mid 2013.

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Posted 03/09/07

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