Nuclear Energy

Canada's Nuclear
Energy Sector

Canada generates approximately 15% of its electricity from nuclear power and is the world's second-largest uranium producer. The CANDU fleet provides baseload zero-carbon power for Ontario. A new generation of Small Modular Reactors is in active development across three provinces. Canada's nuclear sector is a cornerstone of allied energy security.

API Access → All Sectors
~15%
National electricity from nuclear
#2
Global uranium producer
13+ GW
Installed nuclear capacity
3
Provinces with SMR programs
Existing Fleet

Canada's CANDU reactor fleet

The CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) reactor design is a Canadian innovation. Pressure-tube design allows online refuelling — CANDU units run at higher capacity factors than most international comparators.

Refurbishment Underway
Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
3,524
MW Capacity
4
CANDU Units
Located in Clarington, Ontario. Darlington's 4-unit refurbishment (2016–2026+) will extend the station's life to 2055. Also the selected site for OPG's Small Modular Reactor development (BWRX-300). Darlington is Ontario's newest and highest-capacity factor CANDU station.
Operating
Bruce Nuclear Generating Station
Bruce Power
6,384
MW Capacity
8
CANDU Units
Located on Lake Huron, Bruce County, Ontario. The largest operating nuclear facility in Canada and the Western Hemisphere. Operated by Bruce Power under long-term lease from OPG. Major Component Replacement (MCR) program running through 2033 extends station life to 2064. Generates ~30% of Ontario's electricity.
Decommissioning
Pickering Nuclear Generating Station
Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
3,100
MW Capacity
6
CANDU Units
Located in Pickering, Ontario (east of Toronto). Ontario extended operations to end of 2024 to support grid reliability during the Darlington refurbishment period. Units A (1–4) permanently shut down. Units B (5–8) operating under extended licence. Full decommissioning to proceed post-2025.
Operating
Point Lepreau Nuclear Station
NB Power
680
MW Capacity
1
CANDU Unit
New Brunswick's only nuclear station. Refurbished 2008–2012, licensed to 2040+. Supplies approximately 30% of New Brunswick's electricity. NB Power is also engaged in SMR planning as part of a multi-province consortium with OPG and SaskPower. Strategically important for Atlantic grid stability.
Data Table

Nuclear capacity by province

Province Station Operator Capacity (MW) Units Technology Status Licence Expiry
Ontario Bruce A & B Bruce Power 6,384 8 CANDU CANDU-6 / PHWR Operating 2064 (post-MCR)
Ontario Darlington OPG 3,524 4 CANDU CANDU-6 / PHWR Refurbishment 2055 (post-refurb)
Ontario Pickering A & B OPG 3,100 6 CANDU CANDU-6 / PHWR Decommissioning N/A
New Brunswick Point Lepreau NB Power 680 1 CANDU CANDU-6 / PHWR Operating 2040+

Sources

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Power Reactor Information · Ontario Power Generation Annual Report · Bruce Power Annual Report · NB Power Integrated Resource Plan · Statistics Canada Table 25-10-0027-01

Small Modular Reactors

Canada's SMR development pipeline

Three provinces are actively pursuing SMR deployment. Canada's SMR Action Plan positions it as a global leader in next-generation nuclear infrastructure — with defense-adjacent dual-use potential.

Darlington New Nuclear Project — BWRX-300
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) — Clarington, Ontario
Canada's first SMR deployment. The GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe boiling water SMR. OPG selected it after the most rigorous vendor review in Canadian nuclear history. Darlington's existing nuclear licence, infrastructure, and workforce make it the lowest-risk deployment site in North America. Target: first unit operational by early 2030s. OPG is co-developing with SaskPower and NB Power under a joint procurement agreement to drive cost reduction through shared first-of-kind costs.
Licensing Phase
Target: 2029–2033
300 MWe per unit
SaskPower SMR Program — BWRX-300
SaskPower — Saskatchewan
SaskPower published its SMR Roadmap in 2021 and signed an MoU with OPG in 2022 to jointly pursue the BWRX-300. Saskatchewan's electrical grid is currently ~40% coal-dependent — SMRs would provide zero-carbon baseload to replace coal generation by 2030. A 300 MWe SMR would represent ~25% of SaskPower's current capacity. Site selection and environmental assessment processes are underway.
Site Selection
Target: 2030s
300 MWe per unit
NB Power SMR Program — Multiple Technologies
NB Power — New Brunswick
NB Power is the most advanced province in terms of multi-technology SMR assessment. It signed an agreement with ARC Nuclear Canada (ARC-100 sodium-cooled fast reactor) and is co-developing the BWRX-300 with OPG and SaskPower. The Point Lepreau site has existing nuclear infrastructure and regulatory precedent. NB Power published its Integrated Resource Plan identifying SMR as a key source of baseload post-2035. Atlantic Canada's grid stability role makes NB nuclear strategically important regionally.
Multi-Tech Review
Target: 2030s+
100–300 MWe
Uranium Mining

Saskatchewan: the Athabasca Basin

Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin contains the world's highest-grade uranium deposits. Canada is the world's second-largest uranium producer, supplying global nuclear power plants and allied weapons programs.

~15%
Global uranium supply from Canada
10–25%
Average Athabasca ore grade — 10–100× global average
⛏️
Cigar Lake Mine — Cameco / Orano
World's highest-grade uranium mine. Ore grade: 15.4% U₃O₈ average. Production: ~18 million lbs/year U₃O₈. Located in the eastern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. Primary supply source for Cameco's global contracts.
⛏️
McArthur River / Key Lake — Cameco
World's largest high-grade uranium mine. Ore grade: 6.9% U₃O₈. Restarted 2022 after extended care-and-maintenance period. Annual capacity: ~18 million lbs/year U₃O₈. Key Lake is the processing facility.
🔬
Arrow / Patterson Lake — NexGen Energy
Next-generation deposit currently in environmental assessment and regulatory review. Arrow is one of the world's largest undeveloped high-grade uranium deposits. Potential production: 30 million lbs/year U₃O₈ — would make NexGen one of the world's top uranium producers.
Regulatory Framework

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)

The CNSC is Canada's independent nuclear regulator, operating under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (2000). It regulates the entire nuclear lifecycle: uranium mining and processing, nuclear power reactors, research reactors, waste management, and nuclear substances and equipment.

The CNSC's Vendor Design Review (VDR) process is internationally recognized — it allows SMR technology vendors to receive pre-project regulatory feedback before a licensee submits a formal site licence application. This process gives Canada a competitive advantage in SMR deployment speed.

The CNSC participates in international nuclear regulatory cooperation through the IAEA, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, and bilateral agreements with the US NRC, UK ONR, and EU nuclear regulators.

Key CNSC Data Sources

  • CNSC Power Plant Information — cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
  • CNSC Regulatory Oversight Reports (annual, by facility)
  • CNSC SMR Vendor Design Reviews (published)
  • CNSC Nuclear Substances Licensing Data
  • OPG Darlington New Nuclear Project — cnsc licensing filings
Strategic Intelligence
Why nuclear matters for defense & government

Nuclear energy is not just a clean power source. It is baseload reliability, zero-carbon firm power, and — with SMRs — modular infrastructure with direct defense-adjacent applications. Canada's nuclear sector positions allied governments and defense contractors with a credible long-term partner.

⚡
Baseload Reliability
Nuclear provides 24/7 firm power unaffected by weather variability. For mission-critical operations, data centers, defense facilities, and industrial users — this is irreplaceable.
☢️
SMR = Modular Defense Infrastructure
SMRs can power remote military bases, forward operating installations, and northern command facilities without dependence on fuel supply chains. NATO members are watching Canada's SMR program closely.
⛏️
Uranium Supply Sovereignty
Canada's uranium supply underwrites allied nuclear energy and defense programs. The Athabasca Basin is a strategic natural resource under stable, democratic governance — a counterweight to Russian and Kazakh uranium market dominance.
Data Access

Access nuclear sector data via API

Government analysts, defense contractors, and institutional investors use Reach Data to integrate Canada's nuclear capacity, SMR timelines, and uranium supply data into their own systems.

API Access → All Energy Sectors