31. Commitments and contingencies

  • (a) On May 16, 2012, Cameco, Cameco Bruce Holdings II Inc., BPC Generation Infrastructure Trust (BPC) and TransCanada Pipelines Limited (TransCanada) (collectively, the Consortium) received an arbitration award against British Energy Limited and British Energy International Holdings Limited (collectively, BE) ruling in favour of the Consortium on the issues of repair costs and lost revenue for breach of a representation and warranty contained in the February 14, 2003 Amended and Restated Master Purchase Agreement under which the Consortium acquired BE’s interest in BPLP. The Consortium and BE are in discussions over the quantification of the damages under the arbitrators award. If these issues are not resolved, they will be referred back to the arbitrator for a final decision. The Company recorded an estimate of the expected net proceeds.

    In connection with this arbitration, BE issued on February 10, 2006, and then served on OPG and BPLP a Statement of Claim. This Statement of Claim seeks damages for any amounts that BE is found liable to pay to the Consortium in connection with the Unit 8 steam generator arbitration described above, additional damages in the amount of $500,000,000, costs and pre and post judgment interest amongst other things. Further proceedings in this action are on hold pending final disposition of the arbitration award.

  • (b) Annual supplemental rents of $31,000,000 (subject to CPI) per operating reactor are payable by BPLP to OPG. Should the hourly annual average price of electricity in Ontario fall below $30 per megawatt hour for any calendar year, the supplemental rent reduces to $12,000,000 per operating reactor. During 2012, BPLP recognized an amount receivable of $78,000,000 and a related reduction to lease expense, with Cameco’s share being $24,600,000.

  • (c) Cameco, TransCanada and BPC have assumed the obligations to provide financial guarantees on behalf of BPLP. Cameco has provided the following financial assurances, with varying terms that range from 2012 to 2018:

    • (i) Guarantees to customers under power sales agreements of up to $4,300,000. At December 31, 2012, Cameco’s actual exposure under these agreements was $300,000.

    • (ii) Termination payments to OPG pursuant to the lease agreement of $58,300,000. The fair value of these guarantees is nominal.

  • (d) Under a supply contract with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), BPLP is entitled to receive payments from the OPA during periods when the market price for electricity in Ontario is lower than the floor price defined under the agreement during a calendar year. On July 6, 2009, BPLP and the OPA amended the supply contract such that beginning in 2009, the annual payments received will not be subject to repayment in future years. Previously, the payments received under the agreement were subject to repayment during the entire term of the contract, dependent on the spot price in future periods. BPLP’s entitlement to receive these payments remains in effect until December 31, 2019 but the generation that is subject to these payments starts to decrease in 2016, reflecting the original estimated lives for the Bruce B units. During 2012, BPLP recorded $773,300,000 under this agreement which was recognized as revenue with Cameco’s share being $244,400,000.