Project to begin this year with completion scheduled for mid-2026
The Canadian branch of US-based BWX Technologies (BWXT) has announced plans for an expansion of its Cambridge manufacturing plant aimed at supporting growing demand for small modular reactors (SMRs), traditional large-scale nuclear reactors and advanced reactor technologies both domestically and globally.
The company said in a statement that an estimated investment of CAD50m (€34.1m, $36.6m) will expand the factory’s size by 25%, while an additional CAD30m will be put into advanced manufacturing equipment.
BWXT said the expansion is expected to open 200 long-term jobs for workers, engineers, and support staff in the region. Cambridge is about 100 km southwest of Toronto, Ontario.
According to the statement, the project is earmarked to begin in the third quarter of 2024, next to an existing plant, with no interruption to operations at the current facility. Completion is scheduled for mid-2026.
BWXT said it is supporting nuclear plant life extension projects for nuclear operating utilities Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Bruce Power.
In 2023, BWXT was awarded an engineering contract for the BWRX-300 SMR reactor pressure vessel for the OPG Darlington new nuclear project. BWXT was awarded an engineering contract by US-based TerraPower for its Natrium project to be deployed in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
Ontario’s government has declared its backing for various nuclear initiatives, including the construction of four SMRs at OPG’s Darlington site, the refurbishment of OPG’s Pickering nuclear power station and the start of preliminary development activities for the establishment of up to 4,800 MWs of new-build at Bruce Power.
“There is a sharp increase in government interest and funding for nuclear power, globally,” said Rex Geveden, president and chief executive of BWXT.
The Cambridge plant is one of the largest nuclear equipment manufacturing facility in North America.
“It’s all conventional steel work in this factory,” John MacQuarrie, president of commercial operations at BWXT, told CBC. “A very unique kind of big and heavy manufacturing.”
“We're not really affiliated with any reactor designer. We design and supply components for any of those customers.”
