The Canadian province of Ontario has begun pre-development work with nuclear operator Bruce Power to build the first nuclear reactor in the country in a generation.
It’s planned for the huge Bruce Nuclear Power Station (NPP) on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, already home to eight of Canada’s home-produced Candu heavy water reactors, which together generate around 30% of Ontario’s electricity.
The move comes after demand for electricity in Ontario rose by almost 3% last year and as the province’s Independent Electricity System Operator forecast that installed capacity may need to increase from 42GW to 88GW by 2050.
Canada has not built a reactor since unit 4 of Ontario’s Darlington nuclear power plant began generating in 1993.
The government commented in a press release that a reactor would probably require a decade or more between the initial impact assessment and the first watts entering the grid.
It added that it “looked forward to continuing to work with the federal government as it develops a concrete plan to clarify and reduce timelines, minimise inefficiencies, and enhance engagement and partnerships on major project reviews”.
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