Nuclear energy is likely to play a central role in Canada’s clean energy transition with small modular reactors at the forefront of Ottawa’s plans as the country aims for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to Canadian minister of natural resources Seamus O’Regan.

“There is simply no credible scenario for Canada to reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050 without nuclear power,” Mr O’Regan told a panel discussion on nuclear energy flexibility during the 11th Clean Energy Ministerial conference in Saudi Arabia. He said nuclear would be at the “front and centre” of Canada's clean energy plans.

He said Canada has its own domestic Candu reactor technology to build on and is planning to deploy SMR technology.

Mr O’Regan said Canada is a pioneer of SMRs, which can help introduce nuclear into new sectors of the economy, allowing for the decarbonisation of resource extraction industries and remote communities.