The selected companies are WSP Canada, Peter Kiewit Sons ULC, Hatch Ltd, Thyssen Mining Construction of Canada, and Kinectrics. These firms will support various aspects of the DGR project, including infrastructure and mine design, construction planning, nuclear facility development, and operations management.
WSP Canada will lead architectural and infrastructure design, excluding the mine and waste rock pile, shafts, headframes, hoisting systems, and the Used Fuel Packaging Plant. Peter Kiewit Sons ULC will be responsible for all above-ground construction design related to the DGR.
Hatch Ltd will manage the underground mine design, waste rock handling, and hoisting system design and construction. Thyssen Mining will oversee the design and sinking of three shafts and the construction of the underground test and demonstration area.
Kinectrics will provide expertise in nuclear operations, supporting the project’s management, oversight framework, and quality assurance programs. President & 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.”
Construction of the DGR will only commence following the completion of the federal government's regulatory process and an Indigenous-led Regulatory Assessment and Approval Process, which will be established and managed by the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
The NWMO is implementing an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model, where the selected companies and NWMO will operate as a unified team. The organisation emphasized: “This approach encourages trust and open communication among all parties, putting what is best for the project first by enabling collaboration between the NWMO and the selected companies. All companies involved, including the NWMO, will work hand-in-hand throughout the entirety of the process.”
NWMO President and CEO Laurie Swami commented: “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.”
This collaborative approach aims to ensure the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel and support Canada’s ongoing development of clean energy infrastructure.
