Nucleoelectrica Argentina Collaboration With The Canadian Company Ontario Power Generation Progresses
The experience acquired in the replacement of steam generators during the life extension of Embalse Nuclear Power Plant, located in Córdoba, allowed Nucleoeléctrica Argentina to export its knowledge and sign a contract to provide collaboration in similar tasks in Unit III of the Canadian power plant Darlington, which is undergoing refurbishment.
Thursday 7 July 2022
Pablo Luna, leader of the team that worked on the replacement of Embalse steam generators, was working for two weeks in Darlington in March. On that first visit, Pablo walked down the facilities and held internal meetings on the project and with the supplier, with an active role in transferring the experience acquired in Embalse and assisting the leaders of that project in decision-making.
"Being able to carry out an exchange of these characteristics and being received as one of the team from the first moment is a source of pride for all of us who worked in the life extension of Embalse and enhances our work," said Pablo. In addition, he highlighted that this type of work and exchange collaborates with the culture of continuous improvement in the worldwide nuclear industry, whose pillar and first principle is safe power generation.
Embalse Life Extension Project was one of the most important works of engineering in the country and a worldwide milestone, since it was the first time that the steam generators were changed in a CANDU 6 type plant. The work was designed, planned and executed by teams of engineers and technicians from Nucleoeléctrica Argentina, with the participation of national and international suppliers of highly qualified goods and services.
The task at the Canadian plant will involve replacing the steam generators' moisture separators on-site. It is an activity that is carried out with cuts and welds on internals and pressure limits, with great care and controls, complying with highly demanding technical and industrial and radiological safety requirements.
Pablo continues assisting and participating in weekly meetings. In June, he visited the Canadian plant again, to participate in the training phase of the personnel that will carry out the tasks in the field.
Nucleoeléctrica Argentina is the company in charge of the operation of the three nuclear power plants in operation: Juan Domingo Perón (Atucha I), Nestor Carlos Kirchner (Atucha II) and Embalse.
It also deals with the commercialization in the Wholesale Electricity Market of the energy produced by its plants and the management of projects that ensure the normal operation of its facilities, as well as the construction of two nuclear power plants in national territory and other projects in the country or abroad derived from nuclear participation in the energy transition.
