An expanded local presence for nuclear contractor Framatome is bringing with it new agreement with Bruce Power.
Framatome unveiled its expanded office building north of Kincardine and used the occasion to sign a memorandum of understanding with Bruce Power worth just shy of $19 million.
Gary Mignogna, Framatome's president and CEO of North American operations. said the MOU will cover a range of innovations at the Bruce site to improve both operations and safety systems as part of the refurbishment work at Bruce Power.
He said one aspect is the design and implementation of filtered containment venting systems for the plant's vacuum buildings, which prevent radioactive materials from being released to the environment during a nuclear accident.
"It's an enhancement of safety, above and beyond what is just required by [Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission], so in the unlikely event that there may be some issues that go in in the plant, this containment system will ensure that nothing is released to the environment," said Mignogna.
Mignonga says Framtome plans on increasing its workforce by 50% in the near future, with potential for hundreds of new hires as physical work ramps up over the next several years.
Bruce Power President and CEO Mike Rencheck said the innovations being designed by Framatome are the types of ideas he wants to see fostered locally once the Ontario Nuclear Innovation Institute is realized.
"The types of innovations we can see globally, bringing them locally, applying them, creating jobs and opportunities for our local citizens, that's the synergies," said Rencheck. "And we look to be able to expand that more broadly in the future as more and more activities begin."