Full Breakdown
Saskatchewan Moves Ahead with Two Large Nuclear Reactors
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Announcement and Timeline
The first unit is slated to begin operation by 2042 and the second by 2050. Saskatchewan will also proceed with its first small-modular reactor (SMR) at the Rafferty Dam, expected in the mid-2030s. In parallel, Bell Canada is building a 300-megawatt artificial-intelligence data centre south of Regina, with construction underway on July 14, 2026, and plans to expand to 1.2 gigawatts.
Economic and Infrastructure Implications
- Target capacity: 2,600 MW of nuclear generation by 2050.
- SaskPower’s debt stood at $11.5 billion as of June.
- The AI data centre is projected to cost $1.7 billion; Bell Canada has announced a $52 billion investment to quadruple the facility’s size.
- Large-scale cooling will likely use flow-through water withdrawal, raising concerns about water availability during droughts.
Official Statements & Responses
Moe emphasized the need for “reliable … affordable” power year-round, positioning nuclear as a clean-energy alternative to coal. He pledged collaboration with First Nations, noting the potential for “generational wealth” for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Industry leaders, including Eric Anderson of the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association, said the province is prepared to handle the “heavy lift” of construction, and Sheldon Whitney of the First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence highlighted partnership opportunities for First Nations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We’ll be the ones doing much of the heavy lift on this work, and we're prepared,” — Eric Anderson, executive director of the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association
- “It's a heavy lift not only for Saskatchewan, but our First Nations as well,” — Sheldon Whitney, president and CEO of the First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence
- “These things could add another $40 billion to the debt load or it could lead to very large power increases,” — Bob Halliday
- “So I'm really skeptical about the timing and the cost of these new projects,” — Bob Halliday
- “These are enormous quantities of water and you don't remove that much water from a stream without consequences,” — Bob Halliday