With Ontario’s help, Saskatchewan continues to test the waters of a possible nuclear powered future.
With Ontario’s help, Saskatchewan continues to test the waters of a possible nuclear powered future.
On Friday, politicians and dignitaries announced a continued partnership between this province and Ontario to advance Saskatchewan’s small modular reactor (SMR) development project. Under this agreement, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and its subsidiary, Laurentis Energy Partners, (LEP) will focus on program management, licensing, and operational readiness activities.
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SaskPower has begun the work of identifying suitable sites for a nuclear facility to potentially add the province’s first SMR to Saskatchewan electricity supply mix in the mid-2030s. Saskatchewan will decide whether to proceed in 2029.
Earlier this year, SaskPower and OPG renewed an agreement to continue working together on new nuclear development, including SMRs, in both Saskatchewan and Ontario.
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“SaskPower’s clean energy transition is part of a global transformation to a sustainable future — and the best path forward on this journey is through collaboration,” said Rupen Pandya, President and CEO at SaskPower.
Pandya called the announcement “so much more than a partnership agreement,” saying it marks another milestone for the province’s evaluation of SMRs.
“With decades of experience in building, operating, and maintaining clean, reliable nuclear power generation, OPG is able to help Saskatchewan add nuclear to its supply mix,” said OPG President and CEO Ken Hartwick. “Through these agreements, we are using a fleet-style approach, which will increase efficiency and decrease costs as we deploy much-needed new nuclear generation in both provinces.”
Dustin Duncan, minister responsible for SaskPower, said Friday that the agreement continues to show Saskatchewan’s sustainable energy path is well underway. The province continues to aim for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“Together, our two provinces will continue to build shared prosperity, opportunity, and leadership. Today’s agreement is not only good for Saskatchewan and Ontario, but will protect sustainable energy security in Canada for decades to come.”
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OPG and SaskPower have selected the GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR for potential deployment in their provinces.
Through these agreements, the companies will co-ordinate and enable industry suppliers in Ontario and in Saskatchewan to support a Canadian fleet of SMRs.
Todd Smith, Ontario’s minister of energy, said nuclear power helped Ontario transition off of coal.
“The promise of nuclear power got us to where we are, and we’re not stopping,” Smith said.
OPG is building North America’s first fleet of SMRs at its Darlington New Nuclear site. The first of four SMRs will be completed by the end of 2028, and online by the end of 2029.