Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online
This is the view, looking west from the road, of the land south of Macoun SaskPower just bought for a possible nuclear power generating station. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
MACOUN, REGINA – While SaskPower has not yet chosen a site for a prospective nuclear power plant, it has purchased land along the north shore of Rafferty Reservoir, also known as McDonald Lake, just in case it is needed.
The site is due south of Macoun, on the west side of the road.
Five Orders-in-Council published on Saskatchewan.ca on July 31, one for each parcel. Four quarters were each purchased for $600,000 a piece, and a 12.3 acre property was purchased for $790,000. All-in the total was $3,190,000.
In an email, SaskPower told Pipeline Online:
“SaskPower is moving forward with buying land at the Rafferty site. Note that this does not mean a final siting decision has been made. SaskPower’s land option agreement at Rafferty is set to expire before we will be in a position to select a site. By purchasing the land we can continue to study the suitability of the Rafferty site as well as the Boundary site so that they are both available for potential development.
“We are continuing to work toward a final site selection later this year. If the Boundary Dam site is chosen, SaskPower will look to either sell or lease the Rafferty land.”
The other site being considered is the east shore of Boundary Dam Reservoir, south of Woodlawn Regional Park and north of the residential subdivisions.
These maps, released by SaskPower on Friday, May 31, show the two sites under consideration. The first is along the south side of the road that goes into Woodlawn Regional Park, on Boundary Dam Reservoir. The second is due south of Macoun, on the north shore of Rafferty Reservoir. SaskPower
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Of key significance was Premier Scott Moe taking the stage with Cameco president and CEO Tim Gitzel and Westinghouse Canada president John Gorman in Saskatoon on July 29 to talk about nuclear development. It was part of a panel for the Midwestern Legislative Conference hosted by the Government of Saskatchewan and included 11 states and provinces. Pipeline Online attended the event and will be publishing a video of that panel late next week, after the holiday weekend. Moe heavily alluded to the possibility of building large reactors like the Westinghouse AP1000 as opposed to small modular reactors.
If that change does take place, it will be a significant shift, as an AP1000 actually produces 1200 megawatts, as opposed to the 300 megawatts for the current GE-Hitachi model under consideration. One reactor alone would almost entirely replace the existing coal fleet, before refurbishment of Boundary Dam Unit 4. Two reactors would be able to supply Saskatchewan with the vast majority of its power needs during low demand times, and about two-thirds during peak times. There are many broad implications, and Pipeline Online will be digging into all of them as time goes on.
Also, on July 30, NDP Leader Carla Beck and NDP Shadow Minister for Jobs and Economy Aleana Young spoke in Saskatoon about the NDP’s plans for nuclear, from “rock to reactor.” Pipeline Online had an in-depth interview with Young about the NDP’s stance on coal, and that conversation also led into talk about nuclear. That, too, will be coming out after the long weekend on Pipeline Online.
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The orders in council read:
OC 307/2025 – SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from Daniel Jacob Vandenhurk and Louise Claire Vandenhurk, of Midale, Saskatchewan for $600,000.00 (160.41 acres/64.917 hectares) (Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation)
Title: SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from Daniel Jacob Vandenhurk and Louise Claire Vandenhurk, of Midale, Saskatchewan for $600,000.00 (160.41 acres/64.917 hectares)
Minister: Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation
Summary: Orders that SaskPower is approved to purchase real property from Daniel Jacob Vandenhurk and Louise Claire Vandenhurk, of Midale, Saskatchewan for a total price not to exceed $600,000.00, consisting of approximately 64.917 hectares (160.41 acres), more or less, and legally described as:
Surface Parcel #107927174
NW 22 Sec Twp 03 Rge 10 W 2 Extension 0
As described on Certificate of Title 95R08079A
See: The Power Corporation Act, section 10
Date Signed: July 23, 2025
OC 308/2025 – SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from Beth Nicole Vandenhurk, of Midale, Saskatchewan for $600,000.00 (149.05 acres/60.319 hectares) (Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation)
Title: SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from Beth Nicole Vandenhurk, of Midale, Saskatchewan for $600,000.00 (149.05 acres/60.319 hectares)
Minister: Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation
Summary: Orders that SaskPower is approved to purchase real property from Beth Nicole Vandenhurk, of Midale, Saskatchewan for a total price not to exceed $600,000.00, consisting of approximately 60.319 hectares (149.05 acres), more or less, and legally described as:
Surface Parcel #203242429
SW Sec 22 Twp 03 Rge 10 W 2 Extension 1
See: The Power Corporation Act, section 10
Date Signed: July 23, 2025
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OC 309/2025 – SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from Ryan Daniel Vandenhurk, of Midale, Saskatchewan for $600,000.00 (158.37 acres/64.089 hectares) (Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation)
Title: SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from Ryan Daniel Vandenhurk, of Midale, Saskatchewan for $600,000.00 (158.37 acres/64.089 hectares)
Minister: Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation
Summary: Orders that SaskPower is approved to purchase real property from Ryan Daniel Vandenhurk, of Midale, Saskatchewan for a total price not to exceed $600,000.00, consisting of approximately 64.089 hectares (158.37 acres), more or less, and legally described as:
Surface Parcel #203242418
SE Sec 22 Twp 03 Rge 10 W 2 Extension 1
See: The Power Corporation Act, section 10
Date Signed: July 23, 2025
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OC 310/2025 – SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from 20/20 Ranching Ltd., of Midale, Saskatchewan for $600,000.00 (159.2 acres/64.427 hectares) (Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation)
Title: SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from 20/20 Ranching Ltd., of Midale, Saskatchewan for $600,000.00 (159.2 acres/64.427 hectares)
Minister: Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation
Summary: Orders that SaskPower is approved to purchase real property from 20/20 Ranching Ltd., of Midale, Saskatchewan for a total price not to exceed $600,000.00, consisting of approximately 64.427 hectares (159.2 acres), more or less, and legally described as:
Surface Parcel #107926904
NE Sec 15 Twp 03 Rge 10 W 2 Extension 0
As described on Certificate of Title 83R27923B
See: The Power Corporation Act, section 10
Date Signed: July 23, 2025
OC 311/2025 – SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from Kayla Marie Ann Harvey, of Weyburn, Saskatchewan and Francis Phillips and Denise Phillips, of Estevan, Saskatchewan for $790,000.00 (Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation)
Title: SaskPower Purchase of Real Property from Kayla Marie Ann Harvey, of Weyburn, Saskatchewan and Francis Phillips and Denise Phillips, of Estevan, Saskatchewan for $790,000.00 (12.33 acres/4.998 hectares)
Minister: Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation
Summary: Orders that SaskPower is approved to purchase real property from Kayla Marie Ann Harvey of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, and Francis Phillips and Denise Phillips of Estevan, Saskatchewan, for a total price not to exceed $790,000.00, consisting of approximately 4.998 hectares (12.33 acres), more or less, and legally described as:
Surface Parcel #203242407
Blk/Par A Plan No 102220142 Extension 0
See: The Power Corporation Act, section 10
Date Signed: July 23, 2025
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