OPG and OSGE strengthen collaboration on small modular reactors in Poland
WARSAW, Poland, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) have signed a letter of intent (LOI) that paves the way for the Canadian company to provide pre-deployment, operations, maintenance, and other services to OSGE as Poland deploys small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The LOI builds on an earlier agreement announced by the companies in June 2023.
Poland plans to build as many as 24 GE Hitachi Vernova Nuclear (GVH) BWRX-300 reactors – the same technology as OPG is building at its Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) site east of Toronto – at six locations across the country.
OPG and OSGE signed the LOI today in Warsaw, Poland.
This is the first major milestone in the development and operation of BWRX-300 SMRs in Poland. This LOI represents a long-term relationship between Ontario and Poland to deploy SMRs together, which will ultimately benefit the Ontario supply chain and demonstrating the value of being a first mover in SMRs.
In addition, OPG could provide pre-operations services including site-specific assessments, project management, licensing strategy, and advisory services as Poland builds out clean energy generation to meet demand and achieve energy independence.
Key facts
OPG has begun construction on the G7's first commercial grid-scale SMR at its DNNP site. Construction on the first of four planned BWRX-300 reactors will be complete by the end of this decade, with the unit connected to the grid by the end of 2030. Once complete, this SMR will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 300,000 homes. OPG and its project partners will complete the three subsequent units in the mid-2030s, pending regulatory and other approvals.
Ontario is home to a robust nuclear supply chain. More than eighty Ontario companies have already signed agreements with OPG to deliver the SMR project, establishing themselves as leaders in the growing domestic and global markets for new nuclear technologies.
In 2022, Synthos Green Energy and ORLEN established the joint venture OSGE to deploy a fleet of BWRX-300 SMRs in Poland.
This agreement further cements a well-established relationship between OPG and OSGE. In addition to the Letters of Intent, in 2024, OPG subsidiary Laurentis Energy Partners signed a $40 million contract with the Polish company to complete a Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR) on SMRs.
Orlen Synthos Green Energy and OPG are also part of a technical collaboration group – also including GE Vernova Hitachi and the Tennessee Valley Authority – which has invested in the development of the BWRX-300 standard design and detailed design for key components, including reactor pressure vessel and internals.
Quotes
"With many decades safely operating nuclear power generation, and our leadership on SMRs, jurisdictions are looking to OPG and Ontario as they advance new nuclear power, as a solution for their energy security needs," said Nicolle Butcher, OPG President and CEO. "We are honoured by the potential opportunity to help Poland build a nuclear fleet, while also growing our domestic nuclear supply chains and economies."
"Benefiting from Canadians' expertise allows us to feel confident in building the first SMR reactor in Poland," said Rafał Kasprów, OSGE CEO. "We recognize OPG's experience in the nuclear industry as well as its determination and advancement in deploying the first BWRX-300. Today, we are embarking on new opportunities to bring clean, stable energy for our citizens and Polish industry."
About OPG
As Ontario's largest and one of North America's most diverse electricity generators, OPG invests in local economies and employs thousands of people across Ontario. OPG and its family of companies are advancing the development of new low-carbon technologies, refurbishment projects and electrification initiatives to power the growing demands of a clean economy. Learn more about how the company is delivering these initiatives while prioritizing people, partnerships and strong communities at OPG.com.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada News.Net
31 minutes ago
- Canada News.Net
Canada's new drug pricing guidelines are industry-friendly
Share article Print article Drug pricing in Canada just got more industry-friendly. Canadian drug prices are already the fourth highest in the industrialized world. Now, with the release of new guidelines for the staff at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) at the end of June, the situation is poised to potentially get even worse. The review board is the federal agency that was set up 1987 to ensure that the prices for patented drugs are not "excessive." Up until now, one of the criteria the PMPRB used in making the decision about what was an excessive price was to compare the proposed Canadian price for a new drug with the median price in 11 other countries. The median is the 50 per cent mark; in other words, the price in half of the other countries was below what's proposed for Canada, and the price in the other half was above the proposed Canadian price. Under the new guidelines, set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, the Canadian price can be up to the highest in those other 11 countries. Right now, the median price in the 11 countries Canada is compared to is 15 per cent below the price of patented drugs in Canada. The highest international price, which will be the new standard, is 21 per cent above the median Canadian price, meaning Canadian prices for new drugs will be significantly higher than they otherwise would have been. Sometimes a drug is not available in any of the 11 other countries when it comes onto the Canadian market. In that case, the company can price the drug at whatever level it wants and keep it at that price until it comes up for its annual price review. The executive director of the PMPRB told the Globe and Mail that this would incentivize drugmakers to bring their products to the Canadian market first. Incentivizing drug companies may be a reasonable idea, but that's not part of the mandate of the PMPRB. As laid out in Section 83 of the Patent Act, its mandate is to ensure drug prices aren't excessive. In the past, one of the factors that the PMPRB took into account in determining if prices were excessive was the additional therapeutic value of a new drug compared to what was already on the market. The lower the value, the lower the price. In this regard, the PMPRB was advised by its Human Drug Advisory Panel, an independent group of experts. The ranking of new drugs against existing ones was also of significant value to Canadian clinicians. It helped them to decide on the best treatment option for their patients and countered the hype about new drugs that came from the manufacturers. Since the new guidelines have abandoned looking at therapeutic improvement of new drugs, that leaves only one remaining Canadian source for that type of information, the Therapeutics Letter, a bimonthly publication targeting identified problematic therapeutic issues in a brief, simple and practical manner. Complaints about prices can be made by federal, provincial and territorial health ministers and by senior officials who are authorized to represent Canadian publicly funded drug programs. " Other parties who have concerns about the list prices ... are encouraged to raise their concerns with their relevant Minister(s) of Health or Canadian publicly-funded drug program (sic)." This advice is cold comfort for people working low-wage jobs who aren't covered by provincial and territorial drug plans and don't have any access to their health minister. If there is an in-depth review of a new drug's pricing - a preparatory step to determine whether there should be a formal hearing to investigate if the price is excessive - it is only the manufacturer that is allowed to submit information to the PMPRB. Clinicians who prescribe the drug, patients who take the drug, and organizations and individuals that pay for the drug do not have that same right. Donald Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs are already threatening to drive up drug prices and make prescription drugs inaccessible to many Canadians. Higher drug prices will also almost certainly affect Canada's already limited pharmacare program. Higher prices for new drugs will make an expanded pharmacare plan more expensive and less appealing to the federal government. The new PMPRB guidelines help ensure higher drug prices and no pharmacare expansion.
Canada News.Net
31 minutes ago
- Canada News.Net
Canada's new drug pricing guidelines are industry friendly
Share article Print article Drug pricing in Canada just got more industry-friendly. Canadian drug prices are already the fourth highest in the industrialized world. Now, with the release of new guidelines for the staff at the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) at the end of June, the situation is poised to potentially get even worse. The review board is the federal agency that was set up 1987 to ensure that the prices for patented drugs are not "excessive." Up until now, one of the criteria the PMPRB used in making the decision about what was an excessive price was to compare the proposed Canadian price for a new drug with the median price in 11 other countries. The median is the 50 per cent mark; in other words, the price in half of the other countries was below what's proposed for Canada, and the price in the other half was above the proposed Canadian price. Under the new guidelines, set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, the Canadian price can be up to the highest in those other 11 countries. Right now, the median price in the 11 countries Canada is compared to is 15 per cent below the price of patented drugs in Canada. The highest international price, which will be the new standard, is 21 per cent above the median Canadian price, meaning Canadian prices for new drugs will be significantly higher than they otherwise would have been. Sometimes a drug is not available in any of the 11 other countries when it comes onto the Canadian market. In that case, the company can price the drug at whatever level it wants and keep it at that price until it comes up for its annual price review. The executive director of the PMPRB told the Globe and Mail that this would incentivize drugmakers to bring their products to the Canadian market first. Incentivizing drug companies may be a reasonable idea, but that's not part of the mandate of the PMPRB. As laid out in Section 83 of the Patent Act, its mandate is to ensure drug prices aren't excessive. In the past, one of the factors that the PMPRB took into account in determining if prices were excessive was the additional therapeutic value of a new drug compared to what was already on the market. The lower the value, the lower the price. In this regard, the PMPRB was advised by its Human Drug Advisory Panel, an independent group of experts. The ranking of new drugs against existing ones was also of significant value to Canadian clinicians. It helped them to decide on the best treatment option for their patients and countered the hype about new drugs that came from the manufacturers. Since the new guidelines have abandoned looking at therapeutic improvement of new drugs, that leaves only one remaining Canadian source for that type of information, the Therapeutics Letter, a bimonthly publication targeting identified problematic therapeutic issues in a brief, simple and practical manner. Complaints about prices can be made by federal, provincial and territorial health ministers and by senior officials who are authorized to represent Canadian publicly funded drug programs. " Other parties who have concerns about the list prices ... are encouraged to raise their concerns with their relevant Minister(s) of Health or Canadian publicly-funded drug program (sic)." This advice is cold comfort for people working low-wage jobs who aren't covered by provincial and territorial drug plans and don't have any access to their health minister. If there is an in-depth review of a new drug's pricing - a preparatory step to determine whether there should be a formal hearing to investigate if the price is excessive - it is only the manufacturer that is allowed to submit information to the PMPRB. Clinicians who prescribe the drug, patients who take the drug, and organizations and individuals that pay for the drug do not have that same right. Donald Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs are already threatening to drive up drug prices and make prescription drugs inaccessible to many Canadians. Higher drug prices will also almost certainly affect Canada's already limited pharmacare program. Higher prices for new drugs will make an expanded pharmacare plan more expensive and less appealing to the federal government. The new PMPRB guidelines help ensure higher drug prices and no pharmacare expansion.
Cision Canada
an hour ago
- Cision Canada
Eastern Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers Meet to Discuss Critical Issues
MONCTON, NB, July 24, 2025 /CNW/ - The federal Fisheries Minister along with the Eastern Ministers responsible for Fisheries and Aquaculture from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador convened on Thursday July 24, 2025, in Moncton, New Brunswick (NB) to discuss and collaborate on pressing issues facing the eastern Canadian fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Key topics discussed during the meeting included renewal of funding programs, support for the eastern Canadian aquaculture sector, enforcement and unauthorized fishing activities, marine conservation, delivery of the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program, MSX and Dermo impacts, improved science in decision making, and small craft harbours. The Ministers emphasized the need for improved federal-provincial communication and collaboration to effectively address the challenges and opportunities in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. They were encouraged by the discussions and agreed that a collaborative approach going forward is necessary to address the complex and interrelated challenges facing the eastern Canadian fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Minister Thompson recognized provincial jurisdictional authority over aquaculture in Eastern Canada and commitment for a sustainably managed aquaculture industry, and also agreed to work with the provinces on identifying priorities for small craft harbours. The Ministers discussed renewal of the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) and the Quebec Fisheries Fund (QFF), including support to industry market diversification efforts in light of shifting economic realities. They reflected on the success of the fisheries funds and committed to continued cooperation in supporting the seafood sector, providing much-needed advances in infrastructure, research, and innovation. The Ministers agreed to formalize the forum in order to more effectively support the important seafood sector. Further discussions on this topic will be crucial in addressing issues facing industry across eastern Canada. Quotes "The meeting of the Eastern Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers was productive, and I'm optimistic about our commitment to ongoing collaboration to support sector sustainability, growth and diversification by addressing key priorities like renewing the AFF and QFF programs, supporting provincial aquaculture mandates, addressing industry challenges like MSX and Dermo and by increasing enforcement efforts to stop illegal fishing activities." The Honourable Kent Smith, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister for Nova Scotia, provincial co-chair of EFAM "Our fisheries are the backbone of our rural and coastal communities, supporting families and driving prosperity. I greatly value the perspectives of my Eastern counterparts and this forum, where we found opportunities to collaborate more closely on our common goals. Together, with my colleagues we will support strong fisheries and aquaculture in eastern Canada." The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, federal co-chair of EFAM SOURCE Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers' Meetings
