$440M international deal for AECL
by CanadianManufacturing.com Staff
AECL to refurbish Argentina’s Embalse CANDU 6 reactor
OTTAWA—Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) has scooped a $440-million contract to refurbish a nuclear power plant CANDU reactor in Argentina.
The deal is with Nucleoeléctrica Argentina Sociedad Anónima (NASA), which operates Argentina’s Embalse Nuclear Generating Station.
The Embalse CANDU 6 reactor is a single-unit with gross output of 648 MWe. Originally designed by AECL, it began commercial operation in 1984.
The new contract, which includes retubing, is expected to extend the plant’s life for an additional 25 to 30 years.
AECL will execute the deal with support from engineering and construction group SNC-Lavalin Nuclear Inc.
SNC-Lavalin recently agreed to buy AECL’s CANDU Reactor Division. Once that transaction closes, Candu Energy Inc. will take full responsibility for the Argentinean project.
The deal includes providing key technologies and tools to support the retubing project as well as engineering and supply for plant upgrades.
Retubing the reactor involves removing and replacing all 760 reactor feeders as well as 380 fuel channels and 380 calandria tubes.
NASA will be the overall project manager for the refurbishment project and will carry out all reactor component procurement.
