"Brus 3" has been successfully reconnected to the power grid.

The third block of the Canadian nuclear power plant "Bruce" (Bruce Unit 3) has been successfully synchronized and reconnected to Ontario's power grid, after the national regulator removed the fourth, final regulatory barrier for this CANDU-design reactor

Vraćanje na mrežu usledilo je nakon sveobuhvatnog procesa kapitalnog remonta i zamene glavnih komponenti (MCR – Major Component Replacement). Ovaj ekstremno složen inženjerski poduhvat obuhvatao je  potpuno uklanjanje i zamenu ključnih delova reaktora — uključujući parogeneratore, cevi pod pritiskom, kalandriju i napojne cevi. Inače, CANDU reaktori su reaktori koji su hlađeni i moderirani teškom vodom i zbog toga imaju izuzetnu neutronsku ekonomiju (teška voda i grafit su za solidnu marginu najpotentniji moderatori) što mu omogućava korišćenje neobogaćenog uranijuma kao goriva. Ali postoji problem: pošto reaktorska posuda nije samo jedan element, već je sačinjana od kalandrije unutar koje su smešteni individualni kanali za gorivne snopove – prilikom refabrikacije je potrebno potpuno zameniti ove elemente, što je skup i spor proces. 

Anyway, with the successful realization of this project, the reactor's operational lifetime was extended by an additional 30 to 35 years.

Block “Bruce 3” was disconnected from the grid to begin the MCR overhaul in March 2023, while Bruce Power company announced in February this year the completion of the project's construction phase, when the first fuel assemblies were inserted into the reactor. The reactor was officially synchronized with Ontario's grid at 1:34 a.m. local time, and in the next phase there will be a gradual power rise and final testing before entering full commercial operation.

Nuclear giant on Lake Huron: Plan for all eight blocks

The Bruce Nuclear Complex consists of a total of 8 operational CANDU reactors that are evenly divided between two sections: blocks 1 through 4 form the Bruce A power plant, while blocks 5 through 8 form the Bruce B power plant.

The company is carrying out a massive phased plan to revitalize the entire complex: blocks 1 and 2 were successfully overhauled and returned to operational service as early as 2012, block 4 is currently in the MCR overhaul process that began in February 2025, block 6 overhaul was successfully completed in 2024. As for the remaining blocks, they will undergo the same process in the future: block 5 will begin overhaul this year, and blocks 7 and 8 will begin in 2028 and 2030 respectively.

S.A.