Saskatchewan Has the Industrial Strength to Support Nuclear Development, New Assessment Finds
Assessment finds strong industrial capability and sets out seven recommendations to help Saskatchewan suppliers enter SMR and nuclear supply chains
A PDF of the report is HERE
SASKATOON, SK, November 4, 2026: The Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA) today released the Saskatchewan Nuclear Supply Chain Assessment: Opportunities, Gaps and Pathways for Participation in Emerging SMR & Nuclear Supply Chains. The assessment finds that Saskatchewan is entering the emerging small modular reactor (SMR) and large nuclear reactor supply chains from a position of strong foundational industrial capability.
The project is being carried out in partnership with delivery partners March Consulting LP, Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence (The Centre) and Westinghouse Electric Canada. March Consulting LP is leading the technical study, the Centre has served as Indigenous lead, and Westinghouse Electric Canada has been providing nuclear expertise. We gratefully acknowledge the support provided for this project by Natural Resources Canada through its Enabling Small Modular Reactors Program. Previously announced in September 2025, this assessment is the first of four publications to be delivered for this project.
The project team also acknowledges Cameco Corporation for its direct funding and in-kind contributions, as well as the in-kind contributions of SaskPower, GE Vernova Hitachi, X-energy and the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan, and the members of the Project Advisory Committee and technical working groups.
“Saskatchewan already has the industrial base to play a real part in SMR and large nuclear projects, here and across Canada,” said Eric Anderson, Executive Director of SIMSA. “This assessment shows our suppliers where the opportunities are and what it takes to qualify, so they can invest in readiness with confidence.”
“Saskatchewan’s nuclear opportunity is grounded in proven industrial strength; realizing it requires a deliberate bridge from capability to readiness,” said Ritu Malhotra, President & CEO of March Consulting. “As lead of the technical study, March has helped define that bridge, identifying the gaps that must be closed and where our suppliers can contribute to Saskatchewan’s nuclear future. The assessment points to clear priorities: staged qualification pathways, stronger nuclear quality assurance, reliable inspection and authorization services, and earlier engagement with project developers. Together, these steps can position Saskatchewan’s suppliers to turn established expertise into lasting participation in Canada’s nuclear future.”
The assessment covers four technical areas: manufacturing, deployment and construction, operations and maintenance, and the fuel cycle. Its findings draw on four working groups, interviews and workshops, and were validated by sector representatives. The assessment reflects input from suppliers, Indigenous organizations, industry associations, utilities, and nuclear sector stakeholders. Findings are intended to support supply chain development across a range of nuclear technologies and market opportunities and are not specific to any single reactor technology or vendor.
Key findings:
- A strong foundation. Existing strengths in mining, uranium, energy, heavy construction, fabrication, engineering, logistics, environmental services and large-project delivery give Saskatchewan a credible base. The suppliers’ uranium and fuel cycle expertise is already world class.
- Clear near-term opportunities. Saskatchewan suppliers are presently best suited for Tier 2 and Tier 3 roles: conventional and balance-of-plant construction, site infrastructure, fabrication and machining, logistics, environmental services, selected mechanical and electrical scopes, and operations support.
- Nuclear readiness is still developing. Few Saskatchewan companies hold nuclear accreditation, and nuclear quality requirements are not yet consistently understood. The province does not yet have an established nuclear pressure-boundary inspection and authorization pathway.
- Investment comes before certainty. Suppliers may need to invest in quality systems, certification and training before specifications, schedules or orders are available, which can be a particular challenge for small and medium-sized firms.
- Capability is not the main barrier. Participants ranked investment certainty, nuclear quality assurance readiness and visibility into opportunities as the key drivers for participation, and supply chain capability as the last of five factors.
More specialized, safety-related and vendor-controlled scopes are expected to open up as suppliers gain nuclear experience, build relationships and progress through qualification.
The assessment makes seven recommendations, each with actions for suppliers, project developers, government and industry associations. They cover market signals and participation expectations; staged qualification pathways; nuclear inspection, certification and authorized inspection capability; supply chain engagement and visibility; financial and capability support for suppliers; procurement and delivery models; and supplier collaboration and partnerships. As a next step, it recommends developing a Saskatchewan Nuclear Supply Chain Action Plan with lead organizations, milestones and progress measures.
“It is critical for First Nations to be included in supply chain planning from the outset in Canada’s planned expansion of the nuclear sector,” said Sheldon Wuttunee, President & CEO of the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence. “Our businesses bring established industrial experience, with some ready for work today and others advancing toward nuclear certification. Through our work with program partners, the Centre is central to connecting those capabilities with opportunities across Canada and supporting the capacity development needed to participate.”
The remaining three reports will each be released separately:
- Saskatchewan and Canadian Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain Opportunities Report
- A Summary Report that brings together the findings and recommendations of Phase 1 of this project
- 2026 First Nations Nuclear Supply Chain Gap & Opportunities Analysis, led by the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence
The second phase of the project is currently underway and will conclude on March 31, 2027. This phase will develop three case study workstreams that provide specific and practical pathways for Saskatchewan suppliers to enter nuclear supply chains.
The assessment is available now at simsa.ca/nuclear.
About SIMSA
The Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association represents over 400 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, and leads nuclear supply chain development in Saskatchewan. simsa.ca/about
About the project
Accelerating Supply Chain Readiness and Participation in Saskatchewan for SMRs and Fuel Supply is supported by funding through Natural Resources Canada’s Enabling Small Modular Reactors Program. SIMSA leads the project with project delivery partners March Consulting, the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence and Westinghouse Electric Canada. The duration of this project is from April 2025 to March 2027.
About March Consulting Limited Partnership
March Consulting is a Canadian Indigenous- and employee-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 27 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: marchconsulting.com.
About the 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 westinghousenuclear.com/canada.
Media contact
Eric Anderson, Executive Director, SIMSA
(306) 343-0019