AtkinsRéalis and state-owned Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on deploying Candu nuclear power reactors around the world.

The MOU will be followed by collaboration and licensing agreements that will accelerate the development of Candu reactor technology, including the large-scale 1,000 MW Monark design that was unveiled in November.

AtkinsRéalis, a Montreal-based nuclear technology and engineering company that is part of Canada’s SNC-Lavalin Group, told NucNet it is aiming to deploy its first Monark nuclear plant in Canada by about 2034-2035 and is already ramping up human capacity and eyeing markets as far afield as South America, Asia and Australia.