(CRC)—The Candu pressurized heavy water nuclear generating station located in the Municipality of Clarington, east of Oshawa, as been given a new lease on life. The four reactors at the Darlington complex which generate a total of 3,512 megawatts got its operating license renewed for 22 months by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) on February 26.

Last Thursday, the CNSC also announced its environmental assessment decision on Darlington refurbishment and continued operation. The Commission concluded that the proposed project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, taking into account mitigation measures identified in the Environment Assessment Screening Report...The Commission can therefore proceed, under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, with its consideration of a licence application from Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) for the proposed project.

The OPG is expected to start in 2016 the refurbishing of the four Candu Darlington reactors that came on line between 1990 and 1993. Refurbishment will allow Darlington to continue operating till about 2055.

The other news regarding the future of the Darlington nuclear power station was June 2012 the OPG announcement that it had “signed agreements with Westinghouse and SNC-Lavalin/Candu Energy Inc. to prepare detailed construction plans, schedules and cost estimates for two potential nuclear reactors at Darlington” [GG].