by Chloe Bernabei
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and its subsidiary Laurentis Energy Partners are collaborating with SaskPower to advance the Small Modular Reactors (SMR) development project.The five-year Master Services Agreement between Laurentis Energy Partners and SaskPower was announced in a press conference in Regina. Through the agreement, Ontario will provide nuclear expertise to support SaskPower’s nuclear program management, project licensing, and operational readiness. OPG President and CEO Ken Hartwick said “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.”
SMRs or Small Modular Reactors, are advanced and powerful nuclear reactors which produce low-carbon energy. SMRs hold the potential for not only a more sustainable energy future, but drive job creation, economic growth and export opportunities. Laurentis Energy Partners President and CEO Jason Van Wart said “We look forward to a long-term strategic partnership, to further strengthen the provinces’ relationship in the pursuit of a diverse and clean energy mix.”
This collaboration builds on Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Alberta’s Strategic Plan for the Deployment of Small Modular Reactors, released in March 2022. This plan outlined the capabilities of SMRs to provide safe, reliable and sustainable power to meet communities’ growing needs, create good-paying jobs and help provinces meet their environmental goals.
OPG and SaskPower have selected the GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR for potential deployment in their provinces. GE states that the model is innovative, simplified, and cost-competitive. GE has secured contracts with OPG to build North America’s first SMRs at Darlington New Nuclear Site. Saskatchewan is working on identifying suitable sites for a nuclear facility to potentially add the province’s first SMR in the mid-2030s.
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