Mediaplanet sat down with Darryl Spector, President of Promation, to discuss what the global nuclear renaissance means for Canada. From seizing opportunities across the supply chain and workforce development to overcoming barriers and driving innovation, he outlines how Canada can secure long-term leadership in this pivotal moment for the industry.
Over the past year, we’ve seen momentum build around what many are calling a true global nuclear renaissance. From your perspective, what does this renaissance mean, and why is it different from past moments of nuclear optimism?
There is wide-spread acceptance today more than ever of the rightful role large-scale nuclear power generation plays in providing reliable, stable, low-carbon baseload energy generation on an unprecedented scale, with both large-scale and SMR new-build commitments underway or planned globally to an unparalleled degree than ever before.
Previously, the appreciation of the merits of a healthy nuclear power generation was primarily limited to the jurisdictions that operated nuclear fleets, while today there is a general global embrace of nuclear power as a net positive for society. Additionally, with the rapid increase of AI and the need for intensive computing power through data centres with substantial energy demand to power them, the merits of SMR’s have been increasingly sought by those previously unfamiliar with the benefits of nuclear as a reliable source of localized power generation.
With the world embracing nuclear more broadly, how can Canada strengthen its position as a leader, not just in reactors, but across the supply chain and innovation ecosystem?
Canada has been a respected and stalwart leader in the global nuclear community since the 1960’s. With the profound shifts in trade and geopolitical dynamics regionally and globally, the market is ripe for Canada to establish new connections to trusted partners and deepen proven ties to existing ones. We are ideally positioned to embrace this given our deeply respected profile of solid values coupled with broad, sound technical knowledge and proven experience. In the 80’s and 90’s, Canada had one of the most robust, highest quality, integrated automotive supply chains globally, backed by a highly skilled, diverse workforce. We have those same elements necessary to claim a similar dominance in nuclear—a robust nuclear industry, a sound integrated supply chain, a highly motivated and skilled workforce, and strong political backing at all levels of government on a scale we have not seen since we were leading in exporting new reactors around the world. The time for Canada’s nuclear industry to shine on the global stage is NOW!
A renaissance brings opportunity but also challenges, what barriers still exist for Canada to fully realize the benefits of this global movement?
The fact is, most domestic Canadian nuclear expertise is understandably CANDU-technology focussed, and Canadian companies are effectively involved in every CANDU program globally where they operate. However, a majority of the Canadian nuclear supply chain has limited expertise with Pressurized Water (PWR) and Boiling Water (BWR) style power reactors—the design for the majority of large-scale power reactors globally—and while the generic aspects of nuclear supplier competencies are common to the industry, we don’t have the same pervasive suite of operating knowledge in working on non-CANDU reactors. A shift is starting, however, as we look to be the first jurisdiction to build the GEH-BWRX 300 megawatt SMR reactor at Darlington which many Canadian companies are participating in, and in turn will develop critical expertise on this first-off build that will be essentially needed for future builds globally. As well, with large-scale new build on the horizon at OPG and Bruce Power, it’s still to be confirmed whether it will be a CANDU reactor, or a Westinghouse AP-1000. In either case, having a large-scale new build in Ontario will develop essential skills that would definitely be in demand globally and could justifiably be exported.
The global embrace of nuclear means increased demand for talent and supply chains. How can Canada position its workforce and companies to seize these opportunities?
Given pressures on traditional industries due to higher interest rates and recent trade barriers due to tariffs, Canada has a large, skilled workforce that has been negatively impacted in these affected markets. This workforce could be recruited and retrained to support the sustained demand for talent in the nuclear sector. Additionally, we’re seeing increased investments in fostering awareness and opportunities for skilled trades amongst youth and within academic institutions, and coupled with growing social awareness of careers in the nuclear as viable and attractive options, we’ll continue to expand a mobilized and robust workforce and supply chain that can be leveraged to engage global opportunities. New companies are entering the nuclear supply chain at an increasing rate, and as we continue to invest in our domestic nuclear fleet, the supply chain and workforce will continue to expand, and in turn, can be mobilized to capitalize on global opportunities.
Looking ahead 10–20 years, what does success look like for Canada if we fully embrace and lead in this nuclear renaissance?
I envision if we continue the course set before us currently, Canada will have numerous large-scale new build reactors underway or completed at OPG and Bruce Power, dozens of SMR’s built and operating across the provinces at a scale challenging any other jurisdiction, and a world-leading medical isotope industry completely vertically integrated from irradiation of target material, through post-irradiation processing, pharmaceutical dosing and dispensing, and shipping globally, all backed by an integrated, highly-admired, pervasive supply-chain that is the envy of the develop world, where Canadian nuclear talent is synonymous with in-demand globally-leading best-in-class excellence!
