How AtkinsRéalis Is Supporting Ontario’s Nuclear Energy

The AtkinsRéalis Aecon Group joint venture has won a US$1.7bn contract to work on Unit 5 linked to the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station Retube, Feeder and Boiler Replacement (RFBR) project.

The contract adds to AtkinsRéalis’ Nuclear backlog in the third quarter of 2026 and a history of working on CANDU reactors in Ontario. Linked firm, Candu Energy is an AtkinsRéalis company.

The RFBR project is expected to be the first of a series, with similar work anticipated on Units 6, 7 and 8 in subsequent phases, pending approval.

The initial project should allow Unit 5 to operate until the 2060s, as part of the province’s plan to maintain and raise the supply of affordable baseload clean power.

“AtkinsRéalis brings decades of hands-on experience refurbishing Canadian-owned CANDU reactors in Ontario, with a proven track record of delivering complex life-extension work safely, reliably and with the discipline required for on-time and on-budget performance,” says Ian L. Edwards, President and CEO of AtkinsRéalis. “This work at the Pickering station will help ensure Ontario continues to benefit from reliable, affordable and low-carbon electricity for decades to come.” 

Sustaining the highly skilled

This project is expected to directly benefit Ontario workers, similar to Bruce Power and the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.

It should specifically sustain highly skilled, well-paying and long-lasting jobs across the province.

The CANDU supply chain is 85% Canadian, representing more than 250 businesses and sustaining 90,000 jobs.

At the Bruce Power site, work is ongoing to extend the life of CANDU reactors while new nuclear reactors totalling 4,800MW are planned.

Refurbishment at Darlington has recently ended. It has also seen the addition of four small modular reactors.

Additionally, in southern Ontario the exploration of three Ontario Power Generation-owned sites is taking place.

They have been zoned for power production in terms of their suitability for hosting new energy generation, including new nuclear power.

“In addition to the extensive economic benefits that accrue to the domestic economy during a life-extension project, as Canada’s only domestically developed large-scale nuclear technology, CANDU also strengthens energy security and independence,” said Joe St. Julian, President, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis. “A defining advantage of CANDU technology is its ability to operate on natural, unenriched uranium, reducing reliance on foreign enrichment services and reinforcing energy security, particularly during periods of geopolitical uncertainty.” 

Another global giant is also set to boost the local economy. AECOM announced earlier in September 2026 that it will be involved in a hydropower project in Ontario.

AtkinsRéalis’ nuclear history

AtkinsRéalis, is a nuclear expert with 70 years of delivering nuclear products and full-service solutions to nuclear utilities around the world. It also provides advisory and engineering services to other nuclear developers.

It aims to solve technically complex challenges across the whole nuclear lifecycle from design and new build to asset management, life extension and late life management, decommissioning and waste management. 

The company operates and manages government nuclear research sites, upgrading ageing infrastructure and safely managing legacy nuclear waste. 

It refers to itself as the steward of CANDU nuclear technology. 

The technology allows for the co-production of medical radioisotopes for cancer detection and treatment. 

Through a partnership with tech company TerraPower, the company also supports cancer treatment to extract isotopes from legacy nuclear material. 

AtkinsRéalis key partners:

Aecon

Aecon is AtkinsRéalis's joint-venture partner through Candu Energy, working together on Ontario's Pickering nuclear life-extension.

Ontario Power Generation

Ontario Power generation is one of AtkinsRéalis' clients, having signed a US$1.7bn Pickering Unit 5 refurbishment contract with the AtkinsRéalis- Aecon JV.

Bruce Power

Bruce Power is a long-standing customer of AtkinsRéalis's nuclear arm, Candu Energy, operating eight CANDU reactors at its Tiverton site, and AtkinsRéalis is the steward of CANDU technology.