Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has selected five engineering and construction firms to design and plan Canada’s first deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel. The facility is to be built in northwestern Ontario, pending regulatory approvals.
The selected vendors are WSP Canada Inc., Peter Kiewit Sons ULC, Hatch Ltd., Thyssen Mining Construction of Canada Ltd., and Kinectrics Inc. Each will be responsible for specific aspects of the repository’s design, construction, and nuclear systems management.
“This is a major step forward in Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel,” said Laurie Swami, NWMO president and CEO. “These companies bring deep expertise in mining, construction design, and nuclear materials handling, and we are excited to collaborate with them.”
The NWMO is using an Integrated Project Delivery model to oversee the design and construction, which promotes collaboration by bringing all key stakeholders together under one co-located team.
Under the plan:
- WSP will lead architectural design and engineering, excluding mine and shaft systems.
- Kiewit will handle above-ground construction design.
- Hatch will be responsible for mine design, including shaft and hoisting systems, as well as the design of nuclear systems and the Used Fuel Packaging Plant.
- Thyssen Mining will manage the underground construction and sinking of three shafts.
- Kinectrics will provide nuclear operations management expertise and oversight frameworks.
The repository will not begin construction until it has completed the federal regulatory process and a separate Indigenous-led Regulatory Assessment and Approval Process, developed by the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
The deep geological repository will be the first of its kind in Canada, intended to securely isolate used nuclear fuel deep underground, protecting people and the environment for generations.
For updates, visit nwmo.ca.