small modular reactor

Ontario has begun construction on Canada’s first small modular reactor (SMR), a $20.9B project led by Ontario Power Generation at its Darlington site. The build includes four GE Hitachi BWRX-300 units, with the first scheduled to come online in 2030. The SMRs aim to meet Ontario’s rising electricity demand and provide a case study for global nuclear investment. The government projects $38.5B in long-term GDP contribution and over 18,000 jobs. Execution risks remain, but Ontario is positioning itself as a nuclear leader. [more]

PDAC’s Technical Program on “The Next Big Moves In Commodities” spotlighted key shifts in the global commodities market. Discussions covered leadership challenges in volatile markets, the copper vs. gold investment case, the complex trajectory of lithium demand, and uranium’s strategic re-entry. Speakers emphasized how capital allocation, community engagement, and geopolitical awareness are shaping investment strategies across metals. Lithium’s volatility, copper’s infrastructure potential, gold’s financial role, and uranium’s resurgence formed the core of the debate. No clear winner emerged, but the case was made for diversification and long-term thinking in a landscape increasingly shaped by energy transition and technological disruption. [more]