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New reactor facility projects

The Commission makes independent, objective and transparent decisions on the licensing of new reactor facilities. For further details, see the licensing process for Class IA facilities.

To enhance regulatory predictability, the CNSC offers an optional pre-licensing vendor design review (VDR) for vendors of reactor designs. A VDR:

For more information on VDRs, see REGDOC-3.5.4, Pre-Licensing Review of a Vendor’s Reactor Design, and the CNSC vendor design review web page.

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Current licensing activities for new reactor facilities

Global First Power: Micro modular reactor

Timeline of key events:

  • In June 2023, Global First Power (GFP) submitted additional information to support the programmatic aspects of its application for a licence to prepare site (LTPS) for a micro modular reactor (MMR) at the Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) site. Additional information on other aspects of the LTPS is anticipated in the future.
  • On May 6, 2021, the CNSC determined that GFP’s management system documentation and its plan for additional submissions were sufficient to begin the technical review.
  • In March and April 2021, GFP submitted management system documentation in support of its application for an LTPS for an MMR at the CRL site.
  • On July 16, 2020, a record of decision on the scope of an environmental assessment for the proposed MMR at the CRL site was issued. The Commission determined that the scope of the factors includes paragraphs 19(1)(a) to (h) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, with no additional factors.
  • On July 15, 2019, the notice of commencement of an environmental assessment was posted, inviting the public and Indigenous Nations and communities to comment on the project description. The comment period closed on September 14, 2019.
  • On March 20, 2019, GFP submitted a partial application for an LTPS for Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation’s MMR technology at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s property at the CRL location.

New Brunswick Power: ARC-100 small modular reactor

Timeline of key events:

  • In June 2023, NB Power submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) registration with the Government of New Brunswick for the ARC-100 small modular reactor (SMR). New Brunswick’s Minster of Environment and Climate Change determined that a comprehensive EIA is required for the proposed project, which will occur concurrently with the CNSC’s licensing review of the application for a licence to prepare site (LTPS). CNSC staff will support the comprehensive provincial EIA as members of the Technical Review Committee.
  • In June 2023, NB Power submitted an application for an LTPS, for a single ARC-100 SMR at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station site.  The ARC-100 is a sodium-cooled fast reactor by ARC Clean Technology Inc. Visit the CNSC’s proposed facility page to learn more and for information on where to view the application.

Ontario Power Generation: BWRX-300 reactor

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is seeking a licence to construct (LTC) a for a single General Electric-Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor at its Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) site, in the Municipality of Clarington, Ontario. This application has undergone a CNSC staff technical review, and the Commission has issued its record of decision stating that the environmental assessment is applicable to the BWRX-300 reactor. The Commission is currently holding a 2-part public hearing to consider OPG’s application. At the first part of the hearing, which took place on October 2, 2024, CNSC staff presented the conclusions of their review and recommendations to the Commission. The second part of the public hearing is scheduled for January 8–10, 2025, and Indigenous Nations and communities and interested members of the public are invited to intervene. More details about this process can be found in the notice of public hearing (PDF, 130 KB).

Timeline of key events:

  • In October 2024, the first part of a 2-part public hearing was held on OPG’s LTC application, where CNSC staff presented the conclusions and recommendations to the Commission from their review of the application. The second part of the hearing, scheduled for January 2025, will be held in person in Ajax, Ontario.
  • In January 2024, a public hearing was held on the applicability of the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) environmental assessment and plant parameter envelope to selected reactor technology. Read the notice of hearing (PDF, 130 KB).
  • In October 2022, OPG submitted an application for a licence to construct a single General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor for deployment at the DNNP site. The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR. CNSC staff have completed their review of the application, with the results of the review and recommendations to the Commission published in CNSC staff’s CMD 24-H3 (PDF, 14 MB).
  • In September 2022, OPG began site preparation activities at the Darlington site.
  • In December 2021, OPG announced its selection of the General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor for deployment at the DNNP site.
  • In June 2020, OPG submitted an application to renew its licence to prepare site (external link) (LTPS) for the DNNP. The LPTS had initially been issued on August 17, 2012, and was set to expire on August 17, 2022. A Commission hearing was held in June 2021 and a record of decision was issued, renewing the licence for a period of 10 years from October 12, 2021, to October 11, 2031. Visit the DNNP facility page to learn more and for information on the entire project history.

Bruce Power: Bruce C Nuclear Project

Bruce Power is seeking a licence to prepare site (LTPS) for its Bruce C Nuclear Project, for up to 4,800 MWe nuclear generating capacity at the Bruce Power site in the Municipality of Kincardine. This application is undergoing an integrated impact assessment process (external link), as per the Impact Assessment Act, and the project has been formally posted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) registry page (external link).

Timeline of key events:

  • On September 6, 2024, the IAAC extended the 180-day time limit for the planning phase by up to 45 days, until October 28. This was at the request of Bruce Power and was to allow time for additional engagement activities to occur.
  • The integrated project description (IPD) was formally posted to the IAAC registry page (external link) on August 12, 2024, initiating a 30-day review period (closing September, 12, 2024) open to the public and Indigenous Peoples. The initial feedback submitted will be used to prepare a summary of issues.
  • On August 1, 2024, Bruce Power formally submitted an IPD describing the Bruce C project. The formal submission initiated a 10-day conformity check that was completed on August 12, 2024.
  • On October 20, 2023, Bruce Power sent a notice of intent to apply for a licence to prepare site and begin an impact assessment for new nuclear generation on the Bruce Power site in the Municipality of Kincardine.

Current pre-licensing vendor design reviews 

Licensing process for Class IA facilities 

All reactor facilities are Class IA facilities under the Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations.

These include:

  • small modular reactors
  • research reactors
  • prototype new reactor (fission or fusion) designs for the purpose of gathering scientific knowledge
  • reactor (fission or fusion) facilities of all sizes used for commercial purposes

For information about the licensing process for new nuclear facilities, see REGDOC-3.5.1, Licensing Process for Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills.

The Commission is the CNSC’s decision-making body, and it makes licensing decisions covering the entire lifecycle of a facility, from initial application to abandonment.

In making its decisions, the Commission considers:

Regulatory framework

The CNSC’s regulatory framework includes guidance for applicants or licensees on how to meet requirements, elaborate further on requirements or provide information on best practices.

While the CNSC sets requirements and provides guidance on how to meet them, an applicant or licensee may also present a case to demonstrate that the intent of a requirement is addressed by other means. This must be backed by supporting evidence, and CNSC staff will consider CNSC guidance when evaluating the adequacy of any case submitted. If CNSC staff accept such a case, it does not mean that the requirement is waived. Rather, this is an indication that the regulatory framework provides flexibility for licensees to propose alternative means of achieving the requirement’s intent. The Commission is always the final authority that determines if the requirement has been met.

Licence applications under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act

The CNSC has developed licence application guides that set out requirements and guidance for submitting a formal application to the CNSC to obtain the various licence types of a licence for reactor facilities, including SMRs, in Canada. The licence application guides also identify the information that should be included in an application.

Applicants who wish to carry out licensed activities are expected to use the following licence application guides. These guides point to key regulatory documents by relevant activity.

REGDOC-1.1.5, Supplemental Information for Small Modular Reactor Proponents, is a new regulatory document that is meant to be used in conjunction with the 3 documents above, which set out requirements and guidance for an applicant to consider prior to submitting a licence application to the CNSC for a small modular reactor. REGDOC-1.1.5 also identifies the CNSC’s considerations in assessing the adequacy of a licence application.

Licensed activity Regulatory document Applicant must demonstrate
Site preparation REGDOC-1.1.1, Site Evaluation and Site Preparation for New Reactor Facilities
  • Suitability of the proposed site for the construction and operation of the nuclear facility, taking into account the activities involved in preparing the site (for example, land clearing and building services requirements)
  • Adequate consultation with stakeholders and consideration of their views (potentially affected public, Indigenous groups, etc.)
Construction REGDOC-1.1.2, Licence Application Guide: Licence to Construct a Reactor Facility
  • Proposed facility design conforms to regulatory requirements and will provide for safe operation over the proposed life of the plant
  • Responsibility for all activities pertaining to design, procurement, manufacturing, construction and commissioning

Note:

When applying for a licence to construct, a preliminary safety analysis report (PSAR) is required under paragraph 5(f) of the Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations.

The PSAR must include:

  • the deterministic safety analysis
  • a probabilistic safety assessment
  • a hazards analysis

Before CNSC staff can begin assessing the PSAR, design information as specified in paragraphs 5(a), (b), (d), (e) and (g) of the Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations must also be submitted.

Operation REGDOC-1.1.3, Licence Application Guide: Licence to Operate a Nuclear Power Plant
  • Appropriate safety management systems, plans and programs have been established
  • Outstanding issues from the construction stage have been resolved

Environmental reviews

Under the NSCA, the CNSC has a legislated mandate to regulate the use of nuclear energy and materials in order to protect health, safety, security and the environment. To meet this responsibility, the CNSC considers and evaluates the potential environmental effects of all nuclear facilities or activities when making licensing decisions.

In accordance with the CNSC’s current regulatory framework, new reactor facilities would be subject to environmental protection provisions under the NSCA, as well as all other applicable federal, provincial and/or territorial legislation, such as the Impact Assessment Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, and northern environmental assessment regimes. This means that a science-based environmental technical assessment is performed on every project under the NSCA, including new reactor facilities.

Visit the CNSC environmental protection page for more information.

Indigenous consultation and engagement

The CNSC ensures that all of its licensing decisions and environmental reviews under the NSCA, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, the Impact Assessment Act, or other relevant legislation uphold the honour of the Crown and consider Indigenous Peoples’ potential or established Indigenous or treaty rights pursuant to section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Visit the CNSC Indigenous engagement page for more information.

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