The Government of Saskatchewan has released a new plan setting a goal of producing at least 2,600 megawatts of nuclear power by 2050, a long-term energy strategy that could eventually reshape the electricity landscape for heavy-oil communities like Lloydminster.
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The document, titled Delivering Energy Security Through Nuclear Power, was released Sept. 29 and supplements the province’s existing Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan, according to the provincial government.
What the plan proposes
The strategy outlines four priorities: expanding electricity capacity for long-term growth, incorporating large nuclear reactors into supply planning, continuing nuclear development near Estevan, and building on nuclear capabilities the province has already established.
SaskPower will begin planning for two large nuclear reactors in northwest Saskatchewan, with a goal of generating more than 2,000 MW and the first reactor online by 2042, the province said. Near Estevan, SaskPower has selected the Rafferty site for further study on small modular reactor deployment, targeting at least 600 MW of power.
“Reliable, affordable power is essential for Saskatchewan families to thrive and for businesses and communities to grow,” Premier Scott Moe said in the release. “With our world-class uranium resources, skilled workforce and growing nuclear expertise, Saskatchewan has everything we need to be a global leader in nuclear energy.”
Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison said the plan gives SaskPower “a clear path to meet growing demand and support the investment and industries that keep our province strong.”
Complement, not competitor, for heavy oil
Nuclear power is positioned in the plan as baseload electricity meant to sit alongside coal, wind, solar, hydro and natural gas rather than replace them outright, a framing that matters for a region where the oilpatch remains the dominant economic driver. Lloydminster’s heavy oil sector has shown recent confidence, with industry optimism on display at the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show last month.
For the Border City, the near-term implications of a nuclear buildout centred on Estevan and northwest Saskatchewan are limited by distance alone. But the province’s broader push toward nuclear expertise builds on partnerships already underway, including the agreement between SaskPower and Bruce Power to explore large-scale nuclear development, and international outreach such as the province’s memorandum of understanding with the UAE on nuclear collaboration.
Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association executive director Eric Anderson said the province’s industrial supply chain, representing more than 36,000 workers across 397 member companies, is positioned to support the buildout. “Saskatchewan companies are already delivering world-class megaprojects, from the Jansen potash mine to the recently announced Bell AI data centre development,” Anderson said. “The Saskatchewan supply chain is ready to play a significant role in building the large reactor infrastructure needed to support Saskatchewan’s growing economy and long-term energy security.”
Workforce questions ahead
Alberta has pursued its own nuclear review in parallel, outlined in a separate report on the province’s nuclear energy future, meaning both sides of the Lloydminster border could eventually see policy shifts affecting industrial electricity rates and workforce training. Local energy companies have already supported expanded oil and gas training programs in the region, and officials with SaskPower say continued engagement with municipalities, Indigenous rights holders and industry stakeholders will shape how the nuclear strategy rolls out over the coming decades.
Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence president and CEO Sheldon Wuttunee said First Nations communities expect to be part of that process. “As we explore the nuclear future in Saskatchewan, we welcome the opportunity and shared responsibility to ensure First Nations are meaningfully involved in shaping the path forward,” Wuttunee said.
No timeline has been set for consultations specific to the Lloydminster region, and the province said further details on siting, engagement and investment opportunities will be released as planning work progresses.
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