The early works phase of site preparation has been completed at a site where Canada is planning to build its first grid-scale small modular reactors with the first scheduled to go online by 2028.

The work at the Darlington nuclear site in Ontario, already home to four large-scale Candu 850 heavy water reactor units owned and operated by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), involved civil works including site grading, construction of temporary roads and construction laydown areas, installation of stormwater features, and establishment of onsite power water and IT infrastructure.

The site has now been handed to construction partner Aecon to allow for main site preparation work to begin. Major work to be completed over the course of 2024 includes excavation for the Unit 1 power block and early works for Units 2, 3, and 4.