Saskatchewan is set to establish the inaugural safety, licensing, and testing center for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Western Canada. Currently, nuclear energy accounts for 15% of Canada’s power generation, but Western Canada does not produce any of it. The new facility will be situated next to the University of Regina within Innovation Saskatchewan’s research and technology park. It will feature two SMR “test loops” designed to replicate sections of a reactor, as described by SaskPower, the Crown corporation overseeing nuclear power exploration in the province.
Minister Jeremy Harrison, responsible for SaskPower, expressed that the testing center will position Saskatchewan as a focal point for “nuclear excellence” and bolster the local “nuclear workforce and supply chain.” Harrison emphasized the significance of nuclear power in the province’s energy security strategy and acknowledged the collaboration with other provinces like Ontario and New Brunswick in SMR development.
Arthur Situm, Canada Research Chair in SMR safety and a University of Regina professor, outlined that the test loops will be non-nuclear devices simulating actual reactor conditions. They will enable researchers to study various aspects, including reactor component chemistry. The introduction of these test loops will allow post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan to offer new programs in nuclear engineering, thermal hydraulics, chemistry, and safety.
SaskPower’s President and CEO, Rupen Pandya, highlighted that the training center will play a vital role in attracting and nurturing talent essential for advancing nuclear power generation in the province. Noting the seriousness of their efforts, Pandya emphasized the importance of the work being undertaken.
While SaskPower deliberates on the construction of an SMR, Minister Harrison identified Estevan as the probable location for a potential SMR. Two sites near Estevan have been earmarked as potential locations, with a final decision expected later this year. The timeline for building an SMR in Saskatchewan indicates a decision by the end of 2029, with construction slated to commence in 2031 and completion by 2034.
The Crown corporation is allocating $4 million towards establishing the testing center, with an additional $2 million from the federal government through Prairies Economic Development Canada, and $1 million from Innovation Saskatchewan, along with an in-kind contribution for the initial three years of space leased at the research park. SaskPower mentioned that the Canadian Nuclear Laboratory will provide in-kind design assistance for the project.