NWMO Vice-President and Chief Engineer Chris Boyle addresses vendors
In 2024, the NWMO designated Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace as host communities for the repository, following a 14-year consent-based siting process. Construction will commence only after the project clears a multi-year federal regulatory process and an Indigenous-led Regulatory Assessment and Approval Process, to be developed by Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
The NWMO and the selected companies will operate as a unified, co-located team to foster collaboration, trust, and open communication, prioritizing the project’s success. WSP Canada will handle architectural design and engineering, excluding mine, waste rock, shafts, headframes, hoisting systems, and the Used Fuel Packaging Plant. Kiewit will oversee above-ground construction design, while Hatch will manage underground mine design, waste rock management, shaft systems, and the Used Fuel Packaging Plant. Thyssen Mining will focus on underground mine construction, including three shafts and service areas. Kinectrics will provide nuclear operations expertise, advising on design, oversight, and quality assurance.
Kinectrics President and CEO David Harris stated: “In our role as the nuclear management advisor for this project, we will leverage our broad experience in nuclear operations, engineering, facility licensing, nuclear materials handling and waste management to collaborate with the project team and successfully deliver this project, continuing to support the nuclear industry's capacity to provide clean, safe, as well as reliable electricity for Canadians.”
NWMO President and CEO Laurie Swami said: “The NWMO is proud to engage with five experienced and respected companies to design and plan Canada’s deep geological repository, and we’re excited to work with them to move toward our goal of containing and isolating Canada’s used nuclear fuel. While this is a unique project in Canada, the core needs are well established, and the companies chosen have deep experience in mining, construction, and the handling of nuclear materials.”
The repository, referred to as the DGR, aims to safely store used nuclear fuel using the Adaptive Phased Management approach, protecting the environment for future generations. The collaboration leverages the companies’ expertise to ensure a reliable and sustainable solution for nuclear waste management in Canada.
