New Projects - Nuclear

OPG selects first fuel suppliers for its small modular reactors

OPG is building North America’s first fleet of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) at its Darlington New Nuclear site.
OPG selects first fuel suppliers for its small modular reactors
(Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.)

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced it is partnering with companies from Canada, the U.S., and France to ensure a fuel supply for the first unit of its four-unit Darlington New Nuclear Project.

The four contracts will involve:

  • Canadian company, Cameco, which has uranium mines in Saskatchewan and a Uranium Hexafluoride (UF6) conversion facility in Port Hope, will supply natural UF6.
  • US-based, Urenco USA (UUSA) will provide uranium enrichment services from their operations in Eunice, New Mexico.
  • France’s Orano will provide additional Enriched Uranium Product (EUP) from their operations in France.
  • And US-based, Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas LLC, a GE-led joint venture, will provide fuel fabrication and related technical services and fuel assemblies.

“Ontario is moving quickly as we deploy the first grid-scale small modular reactor in Canada and the G7 to meet our province’s growing energy demands,” said Ontario Minister of Energy Todd Smith. “With construction on the first unit scheduled to be completed in 2028 I’m pleased to see OPG reach this important agreement with Cameco, Urenco, Orano and Global Nuclear Fuel to use Saskatchewan uranium, enriched by our allies in the U.S. and France, to power the unit when it turns on.”

Earlier this year, Canada and the United States issued a statement announcing their enhanced collaboration on nuclear energy and technology, which includes determining a long-term fuel strategy.

OPG is building North America’s first fleet of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) at its Darlington New Nuclear site. OPG and the provincial government are planning to build three additional SMRs, for a total of four SMRs at the Darlington nuclear site.

OPG already plans to develop the “first grid-scale SMR” in North America at the Darlington site, GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 reactor. OPG is partnering with GEH, SNC-Lavalin, and Aecon on the project, and the first SMR is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, and online by the end of 2029

Subject to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulatory approvals, the additional SMRs could come online between 2034 and 2036. The provincial government said OPG could take learnings from the construction of the first unit to deliver cost savings on the subsequent units. The four units once deployed would produce a total 1,200 MW of electricity.

OPG and its commercial subsidiary, Laurentis Energy Partners, recently announced a five-year master services agreement with SaskPower to help streamline SMR development in Saskatchewan. Under the agreement, LEP would focus on program management, licensing and operational readiness activities.