OCI Supports the Federal Government's Decision on the Darlington New Nuclear Project

PICKERING, ON, May 2, 2012 /CNW/ - The Organization of CANDU Industries (OCI) endorses the Government of Canada's decision to accept the recommendations from a Federal Joint Review Panel on the new nuclear project at the Darlington site.

"OCI also congratulates the OPG Darlington EA Team that completed the thorough environmental assessment studies and appeared before the Federal Joint Review Panel at the public hearings in March 2011" said OCI President Dr. Ron Oberth.

The project will provide up to 60 years of base load electricity for the people of Ontario and will create significant employment for the construction trades and for Ontario's manufacturing sector. The construction of new nuclear units at Darlington could result in more than 30,000 person years of direct employment including more than 9,000 person years of employment in Ontario's manufacturing sector. Many of these valuable manufacturing jobs will be created in small and medium sized companies that are located in communities stretching from Windsor to Pembroke.

With the planned shutdown of all of Ontario's coal generating plants by 2014 and the decommissioning of the older nuclear units at Pickering over the next 10 years, Ontario will require new reliable and economic base-load generation by 2022. The proposed new nuclear units at Darlington will form an integral part of Ontario's electricity supply system - consistent with Ontario's Long-Term Energy Plan that calls for continued reliance on nuclear power for 50 per cent of the province's energy supply as part of a balanced portfolio.

About the Organization of CANDU Industries

The Organization of CANDU Industries (OCI) is an association of 160 leading Canadian suppliers to the nuclear industry in Canada and offshore.  OCI members companies employ collectively more than 30,000 highly skilled and specialized people who manufacture major equipment and components and provide engineering services and support for the 20 CANDU nuclear power plants in Canada as well as for CANDU and other nuclear plants in offshore markets.

Ron Oberth
905 839-0073
[email protected]