Canadian regulator issues SMR construction licence
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has announced its decision to authorise Ontario Power Generation to construct a BWRX-300 reactor at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site in Clarington, Ontario.
In making its decision, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) said it had concluded that Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is qualified to carry out the activities authorised under the licence; that the company has adequate programmes in place to ensure that the health and safety of workers, the public and the environment will be protected; and that it will make adequate provision for the maintenance of national security and to implement Canada's international obligations.
The licence is valid until 31 March 2035, and includes site-specific licence conditions as well as regulatory hold-points during the construction process where OPG is required to provide additional information to the CNSC before it may continue.
The decision by the Commission does not authorise the operation of the reactor: this would be subject to a future licensing hearing and decision, "should OPG come forward with a licence application to do so", the regulator said.
Ontario Power Generation applied for a licence to prepare a site for the reactor in September 2006, and the CNSC began the environmental assessment process in May 2007. This was completed in 2012, with a determination from the Government of Canada that the Darlington New Nuclear Project was not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
In December 2021, OPG announced that it had selected the GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor for deployment at the site. It applied for the construction licence in October 2022.
Ontario Power Generation, in a post on the social media platform X, said: "The decision to grant OPG a license to construct the first of 4 SMRs is a significant milestone. We now await the go-ahead from the Ontario government to proceed."
Responding to the CNSC's decision, Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, said: "This approval is a historic milestone for Ontario and Canada. The Darlington small modular reactor will be the first of its kind in the G7, helping to power our growing province with reliable, affordable, and emissions-free energy.
"The Darlington New Nuclear Project could create up to 17,000 Canadian jobs during construction, contribute over CAD15 billion (USD10.5 billion) to Canada’s GDP, and drive CAN500 million annually into our supply chain because our government has insisted and successfully negotiated that local Ontario and Canadian businesses must be overwhelmingly used to build SMRs for the world. Ontario is realising its potential as a stable democratic energy superpower, and I look forward to sharing next steps for this exciting project in the coming weeks."
In January, when announcing that it had awarded a contract to BWX Technologies to manufacture the reactor pressure vessel for the first Darlington SMR, GE Hitachi said that early site preparation work at Darlington had been completed "with construction of the first unit expected to start later this year, pending regulatory approval, and commercial operations expected to commence by the end of 2029".
Suppliers chosen for new build and refurbishment projects
Candu Energy Inc has concluded Preferred Vendor Agreements with eight Canadian companies for the refurbishment and construction of Candu reactors, while Westinghouse has signed an agreement with Chemetics to support nuclear new build projects. Meanwhile, Bruce Power has selected Trillium Flow Technologies for valve supply and related service work.
Candu Energy Inc - a subsidiary of AtkinsRéalis - said it has concluded Preferred Vendor Agreements with eight companies, who accounted for more than CAD700 million (USD498 million) of orders in 2024 and nearly CAD500 million so far this year. The agreements have been signed with: BC Instruments, BWXT, Celeros, ES Fox, Niagara Energy, NWI Precision, Senior Flexonics and Velan.
Candu Energy said it selected the preferred vendors because they "have consistently delivered excellence over the years and have been crucial to Candu Energy's ability to deliver on-time and on-budget refurbishments and life extensions".
The company said the Preferred Vendor Agreements will "ensure a closer collaboration and transparency between parties, focus on continuous improvement and engineering development leading to a derisked supply chain with reduced execution risk and costs, while accelerating the development of the nuclear reactors and job creation".
These companies will also benefit from preferential access to key contracts and will play an important role in the deployment of new Candu reactors, in Canada and abroad, Candu Energy said.
Joe St Julian, President, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis, added: "These agreements are a win-win for the Canadian nuclear sector. By providing our preferred partner companies in Canada with a stable, predictable stream of business, and simplifying the purchasing process, we will accelerate the development of reactors while further reducing costs and execution risk."
In 2024, Candu Energy issued more than CAD1.3 billion in purchase orders into the Candu nuclear supply chain to more than 350 companies, of which 88.5% was issued to Canadian suppliers.
AtkinsRéalis unveiled its plans for the 1000 MW Candu Monark, a Generation III+ reactor with the highest output of any Candu technology, in November 2023. It completed the conceptual design phase in September 2024 and is in the planning stage of a vendor design review with the Canadian nuclear regulator.
Chemetics selected by Westinghouse
Westinghouse - now owned by Canada's Brookfield and Cameco - has signed a memorandum of understanding with Worley subsidiary Chemetics Inc under which Chemetics has the potential to design and fabricate alloy or carbon steel vessels and heat exchangers for key AP1000 and AP300 projects.
Chemetics has a state-of-the-art fabrication facility in Pickering, Ontario, where it provides engineering, procurement and construction services, including module fabrication and assembly and field-construction services across western Canada.
"Joining forces enables Westinghouse and Worley Chemetics to address the intricate challenges of energy transition while enhancing nuclear opportunities across Canada," said Worley Chemetics President Andrew Barr. "This partnership extends our 60-year history of delivering sustainable process technologies, supported by our recent ASME [American Society of Mechanical Engineers] nuclear certification and our specialised alloy fabrication facility in Ontario."
Dan Lipman, President of Westinghouse Energy Systems, said: "Chemetics has a long history as a nuclear-certified fabricator, and along with parent company Worley, their combined expertise and proven track record will help us deliver AP1000 and AP300 projects on time and on budget."
"Partnering with Canadian suppliers like Chemetics drives real economic benefits for the national economy by employing local trades and creating jobs for nuclear new build projects in Canada and internationally," added John Gorman, President of Westinghouse Canada. "For each AP1000 unit we build around the world, Westinghouse could generate almost CAD1 billion in GDP through local suppliers."
Trillium chosen for Bruce work
Bruce Power has announced a ten-year, CAD70 million alliance agreement with Trillium Flow Technologies, a supplier of valves, pumps and aftermarket services in the power generation industry.
Under the agreement, Trillium will provide nuclear and non-nuclear valves, as well as refurbishment and technical services as Bruce Power continues its asset management and life-extension programmes to allow its reactors to operate until 2064 and beyond.
"We are pleased to partner with Trillium over the next decade to source and secure these vital components as we refurbish our units to provide clean and reliable energy for the people of Ontario well into the future," said Bruce Power's Vice-President, Supply Chain, David Furr. "This long-term, strategic alliance allows stability and planning for our projects and is beneficial for both companies."
Herbert Icaza, Trillium General Manager, Canada, added: "Trillium Flow Technologies is proud to support Bruce Power and build on the relationship we have established since the first construction of the Bruce A build in the 1970s, supplying our legacy brands and new designs. We look forward to continuing our partnership over the next decade and ensure key milestones continue to be met through our dedication to safety, quality and on-time delivery. Through the strategic agreement, we are committing to ensuring Canada's strong nuclear future."
Bruce unit 4 began its Major Component Replacement - or MCR - outage in February. It is the third of six Candu units at the Bruce site in Ontario to undergo MCR, which involves removing and replacing key reactor components including steam generators, pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder tubes, adding 30-35 years to the reactor's operating life.
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