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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SIMSA Leads Study to Strengthen Saskatchewan’s Nuclear Supply Chain
SASKATOON, SK – September 15th, 2025 – The Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA) has been awarded a major contract by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to lead a comprehensive supply chain study aimed at supporting the development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in Saskatchewan and across Canada.
The project will deliver critical insights to help local businesses make informed investment decisions and demonstrate Saskatchewan’s supply chain capabilities to the broader nuclear industry. The study is also focused on enhancing Indigenous participation in the nuclear supply chain.
The total funding for the project amounts to $4,015,636, comprising $2,830,385 in cash contributions from NRCan, $100,000 in cash from Cameco Corporation, and $1,085,251 in in-kind contributions from the project team and its collaborators.
This initiative will be undertaken by SIMSA in collaboration with March Consulting Associates Inc. (March), which will lead the technical study, the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence (The Centre) as the Indigenous lead, and Westinghouse Electric Canada, which will provide nuclear expertise. The project will explore key aspects of SMR supply chain development, including manufacturing, the nuclear fuel cycle, deployment and construction, operations, and maintenance.
Key objectives of the project include:
- Identifying the technical requirements and opportunities for SMRs in Saskatchewan.
- Evaluating the current capabilities of Saskatchewan’s supply chain and identifying gaps, opportunities, and barriers.
- Identifying capabilities, opportunities and gaps and challenges for Indigenous suppliers.
- Recommending solutions to increase Saskatchewan’s participation in Canadian SMR projects.
- Providing supply chain companies with valuable insights through three detailed case studies.
In 2023, March brought forward a proposal to SIMSA to lead this initiative for Saskatchewan. Over the past two years, the project partners have worked diligently to secure the funding for this provincial initiative.
SIMSA’s Executive Director Eric Anderson stated, “SIMSA is proud to lead this important initiative to grow the nuclear supply chain, in partnership with both our funders and collaborators”.
Ritu Malhotra, March’s President & CEO said, “In collaboration with our project partners, we are excited to help lay a foundation for a future-ready nuclear ecosystem in the province, driven by a resilient and innovative local supply chain”.
Sheldon Wuttunee, President & CEO, Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence said, “First Nations enterprises are strategic assets in Saskatchewan’s energy transition, ensuring that the build-out of the nuclear supply chain and electricity system is grounded in shared prosperity. By fully integrating First Nations into these opportunities, governments and industry can advance reconciliation while driving sustainable growth.
The project will incorporate the input and insights of additional key participants, including: SaskPower Corporation, Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC), GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), as well as SIMSA members, such as Industrial Machine & Mfg. Inc, Graham Nuclear Ltd., the Indigenous Manufacturing and Contracting Network (IMCN), and the South East Tech Hub.
About SIMSA:
The Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association represents over 360 Saskatchewan-based companies involved in the province’s industrial and mining sectors. SIMSA works to connect local suppliers with global opportunities and support the development of a strong, competitive supply chain. https://simsa.ca/about/
About March Consulting Associates Inc.: March is a Canadian employee- and Indigenous-owned multi-discipline engineering, advisory, procurement, project management, and construction management firm. Rooted in its values of Integrity, Adaptability, Safety, and Quality, March provides unique solutions to engineering challenges, while leveraging more than 26 years of local and global expertise on many complex projects within Canada’s critical minerals, nuclear and Indigenous Infrastructure sector. More information can be found at: https://www.marchconsulting.com/.
About Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence (The Centre): Founded in 2009, the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence is dedicated to advancing the interests and economic participation of First Nations in the energy and natural resources sectors through education, capacity building, and strategic partnerships. The Centre is a unique Canadian institution in that it is wholly owned by the 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan and accountable to them through its 12-member Board of Directors comprised of elected leadership appointed by each of the 10 provincial Tribal Councils, Independent Nations in the province and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.
About Westinghouse Electric Canada:
Owned by Canadian energy powerhouses Brookfield and Cameco, Westinghouse Electric Company is shaping the future of carbon-free energy by providing safe, innovative nuclear and other clean power technologies and services globally. Westinghouse supplied the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 and the company’s technology is the basis for nearly one-half of the world’s operating nuclear plants. Today, the Westinghouse AP1000® plant is the only advanced, proven and fully operational Generation III+ reactor ready for construction in Canada and can generate electricity as early as 2035. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com/canada.
About Cameco Corporation:
Cameco is one of the largest global providers of the uranium fuel needed to power a secure energy future. Our competitive position is based on our controlling ownership of the world’s largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations, as well as significant investments across the nuclear fuel cycle, including ownership interests in Westinghouse Electric Company and Global Laser Enrichment. Utilities around the world rely on Cameco to provide global nuclear fuel solutions for the generation of safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear power. Our shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Our head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
