Canada's New Nuclear Reactors Depend on Foreign Fuel, Raising Sovereignty Concerns
Canada is embarking on a nuclear expansion with the construction of new small modular reactors (SMRs) that will rely on foreign suppliers for enriched uranium. This marks a significant shift from the country's historical approach with Candu reactors, which used domestically produced natural uranium. The first of these new reactors, the BWRX-300, is being built in Ontario and is expected to be operational by 2030. The decision to use foreign fuel sources has sparked debate about energy sovereignty, as it places critical steps of the nuclear fuel supply chain in the hands of other countries, including the United States, France, and Britain. This reliance on foreign enrichment and fabrication is seen as a departure from the original rationale of Canada's nuclear program, which aimed to avoid geopolitical risks by maintaining a domestic supply chain. 
