Aecon, E.S. Fox partner to manufacture materials for SMR project
Aecon Group Inc. has joined forces with Niagara’s E.S. Fox Limited to help fabricate materials required in the delivery of a small modular reactor (SMR) through Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG’s) Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP).
Aecon is already providing all construction services for the DNNP, including project management, construction planning and execution as part of an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) partnership with OPG, GE Hitachi and SNC-Lavalin.
E.S. Fox, meanwhile, is currently performing early site-preparation work at the DNNP location.
Through the IPD partnership, Aecon has formed a teaming agreement with E.S. Fox to fabricate steel components offsite at Aecon’s fabrication facility in Cambridge and E.S. Fox’s Port Robinson facility. The components will be welded into sub-assemblies and shipped to the DNNP project site, where they will be built into larger modules on-site and used to construct the primary steel structure of the reactor building.
Leveraging a modular approach to help build the BWRX-300 SMR, say the contractors, will help lower construction costs.
“This modular fabrication partnership is a made-in-Ontario solution, illustrating the strength of Ontario’s robust nuclear supply chain – a network that is critical to deploying the future of nuclear in Ontario and beyond,” said Thomas Clochard, Aecon’s Executive Vice President, Nuclear and Civil. “Aecon is playing an important role in delivering the next generation of nuclear plants. We look forward to combining the collective capacity and expertise of Aecon and E.S. Fox to execute this important fabrication scope while working with our project partners to ensure the supply of clean, reliable and affordable electricity to support local communities and global net-zero goals.”
“E.S. Fox is excited to work with Aecon on this important and initial scope for this first-of-a-kind project,” said Pat Cimek, E.S. Fox’s Vice President, Construction and Fabrication Services. “With the experience of both companies, we look forward to building large sections of the structure at the two facilities leveraging a modular approach and shipping them to the DNNP project site – helping reduce field labour and equipment costs, improving the overall project schedule, and supporting high-paying skilled jobs in Niagara Region.”
The DNNP could create approximately 2,500 jobs and produce the clean, long-lasting, and reliable power required to meet Ontario’s growing energy needs. Ontario-based partnerships associated with the DNNP will help drive this job creation while supporting economic growth and export opportunities for Ontario.