An op-ed, short for “opposite the editorial page”, is a written prose piece, which expresses the opinion of an author usually not affiliated with the publication’s editorial board.
These transmission lines near Medicine Hat are mearly 240 kV lines. To get the most out of a nuclear reactor, building 500 kV lines might be necessary in Saskatchewan. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
For years, I’ve advocated for deploying large-scale CANDU reactors to strengthen and eventually anchor Saskatchewan’s power grid.
Back in 2024, I raised concerns about the province’s plan to pursue a fleet of small modular reactors (≤300 MWe each). At the time, the approach seemed costly and heavily dependent on Ontario first establishing a regulatory and construction pathway. I was told by then–Minister Dustin Duncan that large reactors (740MWe) would generate too much power and would “create reliability concerns”. That argument never quite held up, especially considering these SMRs aren’t expected to come online until the mid-2030s. By then, an additional 300 MWe won’t be forward-looking capacity, it will be playing catch-up (at a premium). CANDU-6 reactors are also on-power for refuelling operations.
Curtis Boyes Dustin Duncan SMR letter (pdf)
The other major hurdle is our province lacks the power infrastructure, high voltage 500kv transmission lines, to accommodate a high output facility. This major hurdle is raised in a letter from Minister Duncan as a sticking point to restrict the type and scope of future power projects. It should be noted however that a draft decision from OPG (EB-2023-0108, 2023) regarding the construction of an SMR in Ontario stated that if a new SMR were to be constructed, the new transmission lines would be built at 500kv specs but operate at 230kv in the interim. Given the Saskatchewan government and SaskPower are using Ontario as the test case for SMR deployment, why would they build an SMR using 230kv lines, when OPG clearly stated upgraded 500kv lines would accompany any reactor deployment?
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Fast forward to today: SaskPower has signed an MOU with Bruce Power to explore large reactor options. At the same time, developments like the proposed AI data center in the R.M. of Sherwood, projected to consume roughly 300 MWe (equivalent to or greater than an entire SMR) highlight just how quickly demand is accelerating.
There are of course other details not discussed here: economics of large vs. small reactor design, industry spin-offs and related business potential for the province, power sovereignty and the use of proprietary fuel bundles vs. unenriched fuel, Canada’s inability to enrich uranium, etc. The list is endless.
So, the question is: are we seeing a shift toward a more realistic long-term strategy? Has the government and Jeremy Harrison reassessed its position in light of rising industrial demand and electrification trends? Does he have advisors showing him the light that Minister Dustin Duncan did not?
I remain optimistic about the role nuclear will play in Saskatchewan, but I also expect significant upward pressure on residential electricity rates if planning continues to lag demand. Let’s build the infrastructure first so we can lay the groundwork for a fully integrated and provincial nuclear supply chain.
Saskatchewan always seems to lag the curve when it comes to development. Hopefully we can keep the ratepayer front and center as we navigate this landscape and put Saskatchewan at the forefront of nuclear power and supply the world needs.
Curtis Boyes is a Saskatoon based Geologist.
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