Carp and Pembroke firms win $66M in contracts for Darlington small modular reactor

Two Eastern Ontario companies have won contracts worth about $66 million to help build the first small modular reactor at the Darlington New Nuclear Project, the Ontario government announced Monday.

Gillam Construction Group of Carp will receive nearly $35 million to build the project’s administration building, which the province says will create 100 jobs. Mansteel Rebar of Pembroke will receive $31 million to fabricate, supply and install reinforcing steel for five of the plant’s core buildings, supporting 100 jobs and adding 20 more during construction.

A statement in the same release from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke MPP Billy Denault describes Mansteel’s deal as a “$17-million contract.” The release does not explain the difference from the $31 million figure.

The awards follow 14 contracts announced last week for companies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The province says more than 100 Canadian companies have now signed agreements with Ontario Power Generation on the project, and that 80 per cent of project spending will go to Ontario companies.

The four planned reactors would generate 1,200 megawatts, which the government says is enough for about 1.2 million homes. Ottawa is putting $2 billion into the project through the Canada Growth Fund and Ontario $1 billion through the Building Ontario Fund.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines.

File photo: The Darlington Nuclear Generating Station on Lake Ontario. Photo by Óðinn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5 CA.