A $3 Billion Nuclear Refurbishment Project Puts Long-Term Infrastructure Back in Focus

A $3 Billion Nuclear Refurbishment Project Puts Long-Term Infrastructure Back in Focus

September 24, 2026

2 Min Read

A major refurbishment programme at Ontario's Pickering Nuclear Generating Station has moved forward with contracts worth approximately $3 billion awarded to teams involving Aecon, AtkinsRéalis and Siemens Energy.

The work will support the refurbishment of the nuclear station and includes major component replacement and construction activities intended to extend the facility's operating life. Aecon's share of the contracts is approximately $1.75 billion.

Building New Isn't the Only Challenge

Large infrastructure projects are often associated with new construction. Refurbishment projects present a different set of problems.

Teams have to work around an existing facility, existing systems, and operational constraints while introducing new equipment and components.

In the case of a nuclear facility, those challenges become even more demanding because safety, engineering precision, and regulatory requirements are fundamental to every stage of the work.

A Different Side of Infrastructure Engineering

The Pickering project also reflects a wider trend: extending the useful life of major infrastructure rather than relying entirely on replacement.

That approach is becoming increasingly important as countries look for ways to maintain energy capacity while managing the cost, time, and environmental impact associated with building completely new facilities.

BIM Cafe Insight:

Some of the hardest engineering projects aren't built on empty sites. They are the ones where engineers have to make yesterday's infrastructure work for tomorrow.

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