OPG Secures Approval from Ontario to Construct First Small Modular Reactor in the G7  

CLARINGTON, May 8, 2025 – The Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) congratulates OPG on the Ontario government’s announcement that Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has received approval to proceed with construction of the first of four small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington nuclear site. 

Once complete, this groundbreaking project will be the first grid-scale SMR in the G7, producing enough clean electricity to power approximately 300,000 homes while supporting thousands of jobs across the province. 

“Today marks a historic moment for Canada’s energy sector as Ontario takes the lead in deploying advanced nuclear technology,” said George Christidis, Interim President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association. “The start of construction on the first small modular reactor in the G7 demonstrates Canada’s continued leadership in nuclear innovation and our commitment to providing clean, reliable power to meet our growing energy needs. This project will not only strengthen Ontario’s energy security but also create thousands of high-quality jobs, establish Canadian expertise in a technology that will be crucial for global decarbonization efforts, and create both domestic and international opportunities.” 
 
The project represents a significant economic opportunity, with the construction of the four units expected to create up to 18,000 Canadian jobs and inject an average of $500 million annually into Ontario’s economy. The construction, operation, and maintenance of the four SMR units will add an estimated $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next 65 years. 
 
The BWRX-300 reactors will help address Ontario’s growing electricity demands, which are projected to increase by at least 75 percent by 2050. Once all four units are operational, they will produce 1,200 megawatts of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of 1.2 million homes. 

The CNA congratulates all those involved in this significant achievement, recognizing the impact not just for Ontario but also for future development opportunities both domestically and internationally.