Nuclear industry jobs to surge plant refurbishments
In the summer of 2017, the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) held a community event to mark a milestone in the history of BC Instruments (BCI), based in Schomberg, Ontario. The precision machining company had just completed its first production of reactor channel components to be used in the refurbishment of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station – the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) mega-project to extend the facility’s operations to 2055.
With contracts to supply additional components for the project for several more years, BCI president Roger Conzelmann told the event guests that this new business had allowed him to not only retain staff but to also hire new employees.
This economic boost to the village of Schomberg is just one illustration of what is happening to the nuclear industry supply chain and the economies of numerous communities across Ontario these days. Bruce Power is also engaged in a significant life-extension program, which includes a major component replacement program to begin in 2020.
These large, multi-year projects with $25 billion in total spending have led to a “rejuvenation” of the nuclear industry in Canada, particularly Ontario, says Ron Oberth, the president and CEO of OCNI, which represents more than 200 Canadian suppliers to the nuclear industry in Canada and abroad.
“Bruce Power and OPG have both committed to spend over 90 per cent of their reactor life extension investments with Ontario suppliers,” says Oberth.
“Even though the overall projects involve much work in removing reactor components and installing new components, a significant portion of the work is going to flow down to equipment and component suppliers. That’s great for our industry, and it’s great for local economic development in those communities in which suppliers operate.”
The revitalization of the nuclear sector in the province is also creating a large demand for skilled tradespeople, says Oberth, opening doors to increase employment in the sector among traditionally under-represented groups.
“The surging demand is creating a significant opportunity to encourage more young women and Indigenous people to consider careers in the skilled trades relevant to the nuclear industries,” he says.
His association has formed a First Nations, Métis and Inuit Engagement Committee, with a mandate to work with Indigenous communities across Ontario to inform them about the education and employment prospects in the nuclear trades.
“We seek to encourage Indigenous young people to attend colleges and universities to get the fundamental skills, and we will work to find apprenticeship opportunities among our members that are close to their communities,” Oberth says.
“For example, there is a First Nations community in the Cambridge region, and we have a number of large suppliers in Cambridge. By linking the young people to apprenticeship programs, we help the companies solve their need for skilled tradespeople and help Indigenous youth find rewarding careers close to home.”
The surging demand is creating a significant opportunity to encourage more young women and Indigenous people to consider careers in the skilled trades relevant to the nuclear industries.” Ron Oberth, President and CEO of the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries