Canada’s Nuclear Supply Chain Powers a Global Energy Future

PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO – December 04, 2025 – A new agreement between nuclear pioneer Westinghouse Electric Company and Canadian automation specialist PROMATION Ltd. is the latest and perhaps most technologically significant signal of a major strategic shift in the global energy supply chain. While the memorandum of understanding (MoU) focuses on PROMATION supplying advanced robotics and tooling for Westinghouse’s AP1000 and AP300 reactors, it represents far more than a simple procurement deal. It highlights a deliberate strategy to build a robust, highly skilled, and innovative nuclear supply chain on Canadian soil, positioning the nation as a critical hub for the next generation of global nuclear projects.

This partnership is a key piece in a much larger puzzle. As nations worldwide pivot back toward nuclear power to meet ambitious climate targets and secure energy independence, the question of how and where these complex facilities will be built has become paramount. Westinghouse, now owned by Canadian powerhouses Brookfield and Cameco, is betting heavily on Canadian expertise to provide the answer. The deal with PROMATION underscores a focus not just on components, but on the high-tech automation that defines modern industrial projects, making them safer, faster, and more cost-effective to build and operate.

The Robotic Edge in Reactor Construction

The core of the agreement taps into PROMATION's three decades of experience in a field critical to the future of nuclear energy: advanced automation. The Oakville-based firm is not merely a parts supplier; it is an innovation partner specializing in the custom robotics, tooling, and automated systems required for the complex and highly regulated nuclear environment. This expertise is vital for constructing and maintaining advanced reactors like the Generation III+ AP1000 and its smaller, modular cousin, the AP300 SMR.

Modern nuclear construction is moving away from traditional, labor-intensive methods toward a model that leverages robotics for precision, efficiency, and, most importantly, safety. Automation minimizes human exposure to radiological environments, reduces the potential for error in critical tasks like welding and component installation, and can significantly shorten construction timelines—a key factor in controlling the budget of large-scale infrastructure projects. PROMATION’s track record includes developing sophisticated solutions like its Intuitive Robot Interface System (IRIS), a platform that blends automated processes with human-in-the-loop control, providing the flexibility needed to handle dynamic and unforeseen challenges during construction and maintenance. This type of technology is precisely what's needed to industrialize the deployment of standardized reactors like the AP1000 and AP300, turning them from one-off megaprojects into a more predictable and scalable energy product.

“Being acknowledged as a trusted partner by Westinghouse is an important recognition of the growth and commitment to quality manifested by the great team we have here at PROMATION,” said Darryl Spector, President of PROMATION, in the original announcement. This sentiment reflects the shift from a transactional supplier relationship to a collaborative partnership, where deep technological integration is the goal.

Weaving a Canadian Nuclear Supply Web

The PROMATION MoU is not an isolated event but the latest in a string of strategic agreements solidifying Westinghouse’s Canadian supply chain. This concerted effort is creating a powerful domestic ecosystem capable of supporting nuclear new-builds both in Canada and abroad. The strategy appears two-pronged: securing capacity for foundational components while also cultivating partners for high-tech, value-added systems.

Over the past year, Westinghouse has systematically signed MoUs with a host of Canadian industrial leaders. This includes a major agreement with BWXT Canada Ltd. for the potential manufacturing of heavy components like reactor vessels and steam generators, and another with Celeros Flow Technology for specialized pumps and valves. Partnerships with Curtiss-Wright Nuclear Division, as well as a cohort of six suppliers in Saskatchewan for steel structures and electrical equipment, further deepen this industrial network. By localizing its supply chain, Westinghouse not only de-risks its global projects from geopolitical disruptions and logistical bottlenecks but also gains access to a mature nuclear industry with a highly skilled workforce and a stringent quality and safety culture, governed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).

“Extending our relationship with PROMATION enhances our supply chain for nuclear new-build projects in Canada and beyond,” noted John Gorman, President of Westinghouse Canada. His statement points directly to the global ambition of this Canadian-centric strategy. The goal is not just to build reactors in Ontario or Saskatchewan, but to have Canadian-made components and Canadian-engineered robotic systems deployed in Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and the United Kingdom.

Validating the Economic Blueprint

The economic stakes of this strategy are immense. Westinghouse’s claims of massive GDP contributions and job creation are not just aspirational figures; they are backed by a comprehensive, independent report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The study, commissioned by Westinghouse, quantifies the impact of deploying four AP1000 units in Canada, projecting a staggering $28.7 billion CAD in GDP and over 125,000 person-years of employment during the construction phase alone.

Once operational, the four-unit plant is projected to contribute another $8.1 billion CAD in GDP annually and support 12,000 high-quality, full-time Canadian jobs throughout its 60-plus year lifespan. Crucially, the PwC report validates the global export potential of this domestic supply chain. It estimates that each AP1000 reactor built anywhere in the world could inject approximately $880 million CAD into the Canadian economy through this supplier network. These figures align with economic impact assessments for other major Canadian nuclear projects, such as the refurbishment of existing CANDU reactors, confirming the transformative potential of investing in a domestic new-build program.

Canada’s Role in a Global Nuclear Market

With five AP1000 reactors already operational globally and ten more in various stages of construction and commissioning, the market is proven and expanding. Ukraine has committed to building nine units to secure its energy future, Poland has selected the technology for its first nuclear power plant, and Bulgaria is moving forward with two units. The development of the AP300 SMR opens up even more markets, targeting industrial applications and even power-hungry data centers, which are increasingly seeking reliable, carbon-free energy sources.

By embedding companies like PROMATION into its core delivery strategy, Westinghouse is ensuring that Canada’s industrial base will be a direct beneficiary of this global growth. This transforms Canada from a potential customer of nuclear technology into a fundamental pillar of its international deployment. The expertise developed in robotics for the AP1000 will be directly transferable to the AP300, giving Canadian firms a first-mover advantage in the burgeoning SMR market. This strategic integration ensures that as the world builds next-generation clean energy infrastructure, it will be doing so with a significant and innovative contribution from Canada.