Bruce Power begins loading fuel into Unit 3, moving toward its return to service

Bruce Power has started loading fuel into the Unit 3 reactor, a significant milestone in the unit’s Major Component Replacement (MCR) outage and a key step toward returning the unit to service to power Ontario with reliable, low-cost electricity for families and businesses.

With fuel loading now under way, following approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Unit 3 is moving into the final phase of return-to-service activities following the successful completion of major refurbishment and construction work. When returned to service in the coming months, the refurbished unit will provide enough clean, reliable, made-in-Ontario low-cost electricity to power a city roughly the size of Brampton for decades to come, strengthening the province’s energy independence and supporting economic growth.

“Bruce Power is exceeding milestones and delivering refurbishments that further position Ontario as a global nuclear leader,” said Ontario energy minister Stephen Lecce. “This achievement reflects the strength of our skilled workforce and our commitment to delivering clean, reliable, made-in-Ontario nuclear power with over 90 per cent of every dollar staying in country.”

Bruce Power operations staff will refuel the unit’s 480 fuel channels with 5,760 fuel bundles over the coming weeks, followed by system-testing, inspections, and commissioning activities prior to reconnecting the unit to Ontario’s electricity grid.

The team is leveraging lessons learned in the successful Unit 6 MCR outage to ensure high performance during the fuel load.

“Advancing the Unit 3 MCR fuel load, safely and efficiently, to return the power plant to service on-plan and with quality, strengthens Ontario’s energy security by ensuring we can meet growing electricity demand with clean, affordable, dependable and made-in-Canada power,” said Eric Chassard, Bruce Power president and chief executive officer. “Bruce Power and its amazing partners, supply chain and skilled workforce, as well as the entire nuclear industry, are completing projects to a high standard with disciplined delivery, to power Ontario and its economy for decades into the future.”

Unit 3 is the second of six units undergoing MCR outages as part of Bruce Power’s Life Extension Program, Ontario’s largest privately-funded clean-energy infrastructure project. The program will extend the life of the Bruce Power site through 2064 while supporting provincial climate objectives and long-term energy planning.

Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program, directly and indirectly, supports approximately 22,000 jobs annually and contributes billions of dollars each year to Ontario’s economy. More than 60 supplier partners now have a local presence in Bruce, Grey, and Huron counties, creating lasting economic benefits well beyond the site.

As the fuel load continues, Bruce Power remains focused on safety, quality, and execution excellence, ensuring Unit 3 returns to service safely, reliably, and ready to power Ontario forward with affordable electricity for generations.