First Nations-Owned Transportable Nuclear Power Plant Pilot Project Planned for New Brunswick
A new pilot project for a First Nations-owned Transportable Nuclear Power Plant (TNPP) is set to validate logistics and operational requirements in New Brunswick, Canada. The project aims to establish a commercial blueprint for a fleet of TNPPs across Canada's North and for global export markets. The provincial government of New Brunswick has committed to purchasing the generated electricity, and the project has been advanced to Canada's federal Major Projects Office as a nationally transformative infrastructure initiative.
The proposed pilot project will deploy a commercial electricity-generating facility and construct a new campus in Belledune. This campus will include a centralized operations and maintenance hub to monitor and service a Northern TNPP fleet and train future plant workers. Additionally, it will feature an Indigenous Energy Innovation Visitor Centre. The power plant is expected to create over 150 jobs during site preparation and 40 permanent on-site jobs, with in-service operation targeted for the early 2030s. At peak output, the TNPP will supply clean baseload energy capable of powering up to 40,000 homes.
TNPPs are designed to be factory-built, shipped, and installed within approximately 18 months, offering a rapidly deployable clean energy solution for remote locations such as Northern ports, communities, defense installations, and critical mineral operations. The plants arrive fully assembled, ready for fueling and commissioning, which helps mitigate remote construction risks, reduce capital expenditure, and accelerate delivery timelines. These power plants are also designed for complete removal at the end of their operational life for centralized decommissioning, addressing concerns about legacy waste.
Prodigy Clean Energy is developing two types of facilities: the Prodigy Microreactor Power Station TNPP and the SMR Marine Power Station TNPP, which can integrate various sizes and types of nuclear reactors. These Transportable Nuclear Power Plants are purpose-designed, marine-fabricated buildings qualified to house operating nuclear reactors, with all systems and components contained within the plant. They are customizable from 1-1000 MWe gross output and can be tailored for high-heat applications.
In March 2024, Prodigy Clean Energy and Des Nëdhé Group, an Indigenous Economic Development Corporation, signed a memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities for powering remote mines and communities in Canada using Prodigy microreactor Transportable Nuclear Power Plants. This collaboration aims to engage with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada to identify pathways for Indigenous ownership in TNPP new builds and to foster an Indigenous workforce for TNPP commercialization and strategic infrastructure development.
The project team plans to establish the proponent venture organization and initiate critical-path activities, including site selection and characterization for licensing. They will also finalize the selection of a reactor technology demonstrably ready by 2032 for commercial electricity generation. These steps will lay the groundwork for submitting the Licence to Prepare Site application, with the goal of achieving a Final Investment Decision within 18 months. A qualified nuclear operating organization will be procured during the initial planning phase to serve as the facility licensee.