Sector:

  • Nuclear Power

Expertise:

  • Crane lifting

  • Heavy transport

Benefits:

  • Increased safety

  • Protected infrastructure

Location:

  • Canada

The life-extension program will reach a major milestone with the completion of Bruce A outages.

Mammoet is to return to the Bruce Power nuclear power plant in Ontario, Canada to continue its work in the Major Component Replacement (MCR) project that will extend the life of the plants.

The MCR project, which saw construction begin in 2020, includes the replacement of major components within six reactor units (Units 3-8) across two stations, Bruce A and B.

When in operation, these stations power more than 30 per cent of the province and produce cancer-fighting medical isotopes.

Mammoet supported the steam generator exchanges at Unit 3 of Bruce A in 2024. It will now return to the station to perform a similar scope for Unit 4.

This project is being carried out for Bruce Power and the Steam Generator Replacement Team (SGRT) – an equal joint venture between Aecon and SGT (a partnership of Framatome and Unite Engineers and Constructors).

Mammoet is providing SGRT with lifting, transport, and jack-and-slide services to relocate two steam drums and exchange eight steam generators at Unit 4.

This process is scheduled to take around six months, and will once again utilize Mammoet’s 1,600t capacity PTC-35 ring crane and jack-and-slide equipment.

Mammoet Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) will be on site to move the end-of-life steam generators into long-term storage.

By combining power with portability, the PTC ring crane is playing a key role in the safe and efficient exchanges of the steam generators.

Gord Gilchrist, Business Development Director at Mammoet, said:

“A crawler crane of similar capacity would require a big counterweight, which would need to be continually picked up and set back down.

Not only does this add risk, but it takes up more time and room. The other advantage of the PTC is that it can stand tall in extreme weather using a storm anchor.

This is key because the site can see very heavy wind conditions. If you were to use a crawler, the high winds could mean having to down boom”.

 Rob Hoare, Vice President, MCR Execution, said:

"Mammoet continues to help us safely execute our MCR projects that will extend the life of Bruce Power for decades to come.

From its specialist equipment that has made these efficient exchanges fast, efficient and safe, to its engineering support Mammoet have been a critical partner for the success of the project”.

Mammoet is a leader in the construction, maintenance and decommissioning of nuclear power sites. Its specialist team is involved in key new build and life extension projects globally, including at Hinkley Point C in the UK, Flamanville nuclear power station in France and ITER, the international nuclear fusion research and engineering project.