Darlington nuclear plant gets renewed licence

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission renewed the operating licence Wednesday for the Darlington generating station, an announcement that comes shortly afterthe Ontario government announced a sweeping multi-billiondollarplan to update some of theprovince's nuclear power plants.

In a written statement released Wednesday, the commission said the licence for the plant located in Clarington, Ont.which is about 70 kilometres east of Torontowill be "valid from Jan.1, 2016 until November 30, 2025."

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"With this licence renewal, the commission authorizes [Ontario Power Generation] to undertake the refurbishment and life extension of the four reactor units comprising the Darlington NGS," the releasesaid.

In 2013, theWynnegovernment indefinitely shelved plans to build two new reactors atDarlington.

Energy Minister Bob Chiarellihas said the cost of upgrading the province's old reactors will be just half that of building new ones. His ministry is expected to announce details of the plan for Darlington next month.

Wednesday's announcement comes after the provincesaid earlier this month thatBruce Power will refurbishsix ofthe eight nuclear reactors at its generating station nearKincardine, Ont.

An incident earlier this year underscored the need to refurbish the agingDarlington plant. InApril, there was a heavy-water leak at the generating station that was contained, but not before it shut down the plant for a couple of days.