Christopher Hailstone is a veteran of the power sector who has spent decades navigating the complexities of energy management and grid security. As a leading expert in utilities and infrastructure, he has a front-row seat to the most significant shift in nuclear energy in a generation. Today, he discusses the monumental progress at the Darlington New Nuclear Project, where the installation of the G7’s first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) marks a turning point for Canadian energy. This conversation explores the technical precision required for such a massive undertaking, the economic ripple effects of a localized supply chain, and the strategic importance of long-term partnerships with Indigenous communities and neighboring provinces.
The discussion delves into the engineering feats involved in modern reactor foundations, the rigorous vetting of local vendors to ensure project resilience, and the transition of a massive construction workforce into long-term operational roles. We also examine the financial frameworks that allow for Indigenous equity participation and how a standardized design paves the way for national and international energy security.
Installing a 2.1-million-pound basemat module with millimeter precision involves using some of the world’s largest crawler cranes. What specific engineering protocols ensure such a massive component is seated perfectly, and how do these precision requirements differ from traditional large-scale nuclear construction projects?
The sheer scale of this lift is hard to wrap your head around; we are talking about moving 2.1 million pounds, which is roughly the weight of three Airbus A380 airliners. To handle this, the team deployed the LR/LE 12500-1.0 crawler crane, a beast of a machine with a lifting capacity of up to 5.5 million pounds and a reach extending over 200 meters. The protocols involved are incredibly stringent, requiring months of site preparation and simulated lifts to ensure that when the module finally moves, it settles into place within a fraction of an inch. Unlike traditional nuclear builds of 30 years ago that relied on massive, continuous concrete pours on-site, this modular approach uses prefabricated components that must align perfectly with the reactor’s internal systems. This precision is vital because the basemat serves as the bedrock for the reactor building’s structure and the structural steel provided by local partners like the Walters Group, leaving zero margin for error if we want to remain on schedule.
With over 100 companies now integrated into the supply chain for small modular reactors, the economic impact is significant. Can you explain the process of vetting local vendors for specialized components like condensate purification or reactor enclosures, and how does maintaining a high percentage of local spending affect project timelines?
We have made a deliberate commitment to ensure that 80 percent of every dollar spent on this project stays within the Canadian supply chain, which has already resulted in over $500 million being infused into our economy. Vetting these 100-plus companies involves a rigorous quality assurance process where we look for technical excellence and the ability to meet the uncompromising safety standards of the nuclear industry. For instance, Toronto-based Marmon Industrial Water secured a $17.8 million contract for a condensate purification package, while Tractel in Scarborough is providing the $9.9 million reactor building weather enclosure. By sourcing these high-tech components locally, we significantly reduce the logistical risks associated with international shipping and global supply chain disruptions. This proximity allows for real-time collaboration and oversight, ensuring that specialized equipment, like the $8.8 million sampling and collection tanks from Hooper Welding in Oakville, arrives exactly when the project team needs it to keep construction moving.
A facility consisting of four modular units is expected to generate 1,200 megawatts of power for over 60 years. What strategies are in place to transition the current construction workforce into long-term operational roles, and how does this steady power output reshape the regional strategy for energy reliability?
The long-term vision for Darlington is built on the idea of “Energy for Generations,” where the 18,000 jobs created during construction evolve into 3,800 highly-skilled, permanent positions that will sustain the facility for the next 65 years. We are actively working on training pipelines that take the pipefitters, electricians, and engineers currently on-site and prepare them for the operational and maintenance demands of a 1,200-megawatt plant. This steady output is a game-changer for regional reliability because it provides enough carbon-free electricity to power 1.2 million homes, offering a rock-solid baseline that supports economic growth and new housing developments. The cumulative impact is staggering, with the four units expected to add $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over their operational life. Having this predictable, high-volume power source allows the province to invest confidently in energy-intensive industries, knowing the grid won’t buckle under the pressure of increasing demand.
Establishing equity partnerships with Indigenous communities, such as the Williams Treaties First Nations, represents a shift in energy project management. How do these financial and collaborative frameworks function during the construction phase, and what milestones are necessary to ensure these partnerships remain mutually beneficial for decades?
This is truly a first-of-its-kind partnership in the Canadian nuclear sector, moving beyond simple consultation toward genuine equity ownership. During this construction phase, the framework focuses on building respectful, collaborative relationships and ensuring that the communities of the Williams Treaties First Nations have a seat at the table for major developmental decisions. A key milestone was the approval of the construction plan in 2025, which opened the door for potential equity stakes that will allow these communities to benefit directly from the revenue generated by the reactors. For a partnership to remain beneficial over 60 years, we must ensure that the financial returns are paired with long-term employment opportunities and environmental stewardship. This collaborative model provides the certainty needed for Indigenous partners to invest alongside the government, ensuring that the prosperity generated by these SMRs is shared by the people whose traditional territories host the project.
Other jurisdictions are currently monitoring these modular designs for potential use in their own power grids. What are the primary logistical challenges when exporting made-on-site components to other regions, and how does a standardized design help streamline the licensing process for neighboring provinces or international partners?
The primary logistical challenge in exporting this technology is the sheer physical scale of the modules; moving a 2.1-million-pound component across provincial lines or overseas requires specialized transport infrastructure and meticulous planning. However, the use of a standardized design is our greatest asset, as it allows us to create a “blueprint” that has already been vetted and approved by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. We are currently collaborating with power companies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Yukon, and Nova Scotia, providing them with a proven path to deployment that bypasses much of the regulatory uncertainty typically associated with new nuclear builds. Because we’ve already secured the Licence to Construct and applied for the Licence to Operate for Unit 1, these neighboring jurisdictions can leverage our experience to fast-track their own energy transitions. This “made-in-Ontario” expertise is not just about selling parts; it’s about exporting a reliable framework for energy independence that other G7 nations are eager to emulate.
This project marks the first foundation for a new reactor in over 30 years. How has the specialized labor market evolved to meet these modern technical demands, and what specific steps are taken during the assembly of internal reactor systems to ensure the project remains on schedule and within budget?
The labor market has had to re-learn and modernize skills that haven’t been utilized on this scale since the 1990s, blending traditional heavy industry expertise with advanced digital modeling and precision engineering. To keep the project on track, the team at Ontario Power Generation utilizes a highly integrated assembly process where the reactor building’s structure and internal systems are built out in parallel rather than sequentially. For example, once the basemat was secured, the project team immediately advanced work on internal components and the $44.5 million structural steel framework provided by the Walters Group. We are also benefiting from the $1 billion provincial investment through the Building Ontario Fund and $2 billion in federal support through the Canada Growth Fund, which provides the financial stability needed to maintain a rigorous pace. By breaking the project into four modular units, we can apply lessons learned from the first build to the subsequent three, creating a feedback loop that maximizes efficiency and keeps the total project within its budgetary constraints.
What is your forecast for Small Modular Reactors?
I believe we are entering a “Nuclear Renaissance” where SMRs become the indispensable backbone of a resilient, carbon-free global economy. Over the next decade, as the four units at Darlington come online and begin powering 1.2 million homes, I expect to see this modular model replicated across the country, particularly in regions currently reliant on fossil fuels. We will likely see a massive expansion in the export of Canadian-made reactor components, as the $38.5 billion GDP impact we’re seeing here becomes a template for international energy policy. The success of the Darlington project proves that we can build complex nuclear infrastructure on-time and on-budget, and this will encourage further investment in 1,200-megawatt hubs that provide the steady, reliable power necessary to support both a growing population and the energy-intensive industries of the future. Within 20 years, SMRs will not just be a specialized energy source; they will be the standard for any jurisdiction serious about achieving self-reliance and long-term economic stability.
