Darlington SMR contracts announced November 6 cover 14 manufacturing awards for equipment and materials from Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area suppliers to the new nuclear project in Clarington.
Ontario says the awards cover components for the first small modular reactor at the Darlington New Nuclear Project, including pumps, transformers and specialized steel. The announcement is a procurement update, not a declaration that the reactor has started generating electricity.
Pumps, steel and concrete
Scarborough-based Armstrong Fluid Technology has a $3.9-million contract for a pumphouse enclosure and pumps. Celeros Flow Technology will supply a control rod drive pump, with manufacturing at its nuclear facility in Burlington.
Oakville-based Hooper Welding is providing structural-module steel. Toronto-based St. Mary’s Cement is supplying concrete and operating a high-density concrete batch plant for the project.
The details connect the Darlington construction programme with manufacturers beyond Durham. Ontario says more than 100 Canadian companies have already signed agreements with Ontario Power Generation to help deliver the project.
First unit in a four-reactor programme
The contracts relate to the first of four planned reactors at the site. Ontario says the complete four-unit programme would have a combined capacity of 1,200 megawatts, enough electricity for approximately 1.2 million homes.
Provincial approval to begin building the first unit was granted in 2025. The new supplier awards are a later step in that programme, distinct from the earlier construction approval and other equipment-installation milestones.
Ontario has committed $1 billion through the Building Ontario Fund, while the federal government is investing $2 billion through the Canada Growth Fund. Those programme investments should not be confused with the value of the 14 supplier awards.
The Darlington SMR contracts announcement identifies equipment suppliers and manufacturing work. It does not, on its own, establish a new opening date or a change to the proposed total generating capacity.
