The University of Regina Small Modular Reactor Safety, Licensing, and Testing centre will advance the nuclear energy sector and strengthen Canada as a global energy leader
As Canada's energy needs evolve, communities across the country are seeking innovative solutions that deliver clean, affordable power. In Saskatchewan, small modular reactors can deliver reliable, low-emission power to meet the needs of the future while driving economic growth-but further research and testing is needed to unlock their full potential.
Today, the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development), on behalf of the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced federal support for the University of Regina to build the Small Modular Reactor Safety, Licensing, and Testing centre (SMR-SLT).
The new testing facility will ensure that Canadian researchers and businesses are equipped to safely develop and deploy these next-generation nuclear technologies. It represents a Government of Canada investment of $1.96 million through PrairiesCan, alongside $4 million from the Government of Saskatchewan.
The SMR-SLT will provide industry and academic partners with access to the first modern SMR test loops in Western Canada and will enable the testing of components under conditions that replicate operating reactors. This will support innovation, workforce development, and the safe deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies.
Canada generates 15 percent of its power from nuclear energy, but none of it is produced in Western Canada. Saskatchewan has the largest high-grade uranium deposits in the world and provides almost a quarter of the world's uranium supply for electrical generation. SMR deployment in Saskatchewan and across Canada will harness more value from our natural resources, meeting Canada's energy production needs while driving down emissions.
The project will create 18 direct jobs, support 10 small businesses, and train a highly skilled workforce, while advancing Saskatchewan's preparation for the estimated 2,500 to 3,500 jobs required to build and operate nuclear power plants by the mid-2030s.
