'We are landing major agreements abroad that are creating value-added jobs back home in Ontario'
The Ontario government has announced the completion of phase one of preparation for Ontario’s first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) – the first in G7 – which is being constructed at Darlington, England.
It also says it completed successful trade missions to Romania and France, securing $360 million worth of deals that are meant to boost Ontario’s economy and leverage the province’s expertise in nuclear energy.
These agreements will leverage the province’s nuclear expertise to create jobs for Ontario workers and grow the province’s nuclear-supply chain, says the government.
“With increasing geopolitical volatility, it is clear that countries around the world are looking for stable democratic energy partners that offer clean, reliable, and affordable energy – and Ontario is once again answering that call,” said Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce, who led the mission with Minister of Education Todd Smith.
“Thanks to Ontario’s domestic nuclear program we are landing major agreements abroad that are creating value-added jobs back home in Ontario as we deliver a major nuclear refurbishment in Romania that is going to support energy security for Europe. This government will continue our ambitious plan to expand affordable energy generation across this province, while always opposing higher taxes and costs on working families.”
Ontario has introduced several amendments to work-related legislation this year.
Nuclear-related agreements in Romania, France
In Romania, government officials joined Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja for the signing of a $360-million agreement between Ontario Power Generation (OPG) subsidiary Canadian Nuclear Partners and Romanian energy company SNN for support on the refurbishment of Romania’s Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1.
“This agreement will see SNN leverage the expertise of Ontario’s nuclear workers who have demonstrated their ability to deliver these multi-billion-dollar infrastructure programs on-time and on-budget,” says the government.
In France, Ontario officials joined OPG and Stellarex, a fusion technology company, for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities for the development and deployment of fusion energy in Ontario.
“The thousands of jobs being created to support Ontario’s international position as a supplier of nuclear technology and the thousands more supporting nuclear power generation in Ontario will help drive the provincial economy for years to come. The nuclear supply chain provides jobs and economic prosperity across Ontario.” said Jeff Parnell, President of the Power Workers’ Union.
“Nuclear power is the backbone of our clean electricity system, providing secure, affordable and zero emission baseload electricity to Ontario. The construction of the new SMRs at Darlington, the proposed large-scale reactors at the Bruce and the refurbishment of four reactors in Pickering will continue to serve Ontarians into the future.’