The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has approved Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) application to construct a BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site in Clarington, Ontario. This marks the first time a construction licence for an SMR has been granted in Canada.
In its decision, the CNSC stated that OPG is qualified to carry out the licensed activities and has the necessary programs in place to protect worker and public health, ensure environmental safety, uphold national security, and meet Canada’s international obligations.
The licence, valid until March 31, 2035, includes site-specific conditions and regulatory hold-points, requiring OPG to submit additional information before progressing through various construction stages. It does not authorize reactor operation—this will require a separate future licence and hearing.
OPG originally applied for a site preparation licence in 2006. The environmental assessment, launched in 2007 and concluded in 2012, found the project unlikely to cause significant adverse environmental impacts. In December 2021, OPG selected GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 design for the Darlington site and submitted the construction licence application in October 2022.
OPG, via social media, called the licence “a significant milestone” and said it now awaits Ontario government approval to move forward with construction.
Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, called the decision “a historic milestone for Ontario and Canada.” He emphasized the Darlington SMR’s role in powering the province with clean, affordable, and reliable energy, and its potential to generate up to 17,000 jobs during construction, contribute over CAD 15 billion to Canada’s GDP, and inject CAD 500 million annually into the local supply chain.
GE Hitachi, which is supplying the reactor, has said commercial operations for the first unit are expected by the end of 2029, with site preparation work already complete and construction anticipated to begin later this year.