DARLINGTON, ONT. — The Ontario government has announced Canadian company Velan Inc. plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Durham Region to help meet rising global demand for small modular reactor (SMR) technologies.
This is part of a partnership agreement between GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) and Velan Inc. to explore opportunities to deploy Reactor Integral Isolation Valves and Containment Isolation Valves, which are critical pieces of safety equipment for BWRX-300 SMR projects in Europe.
With SMR projects advancing in Poland, Finland, Italy, Belgium, Estonia and the Netherlands, Europe is undergoing a major nuclear resurgence as countries seek reliable, affordable and secure sources of electricity, a release reads.
“At the same time, decades of underinvestment have left many jurisdictions without the skilled workforce, advanced manufacturing capacity and specialized supply chains needed to deliver these projects at the pace and scale required,” it adds. “This pivotal shift is where Ontario’s expertise and industry is stepping in to deliver the world’s next generation of nuclear reactors.”
The construction, operation, and maintenance of the four SMR units at the Darlington New Nuclear Project will contribute an estimated $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next 65 years, with 80 per cent of project spending flowing to Ontario companies.
