Mississauga, ON: July 17, 2025— Candu Energy Inc., an AtkinsRéalis company, marks the continued impact of CANDU® nuclear technology on Canada's economy at a pivotal time. As of July 1, Candu Energy has injected $2.08 billion in purchase orders into the CANDU supply chain, across more than 548 companies in the last 18 months. 90% of this investment was issued to Canadian suppliers, highlighting the depth and breadth of the CANDU supply chain within Canada, with $1.83 billion of this spend going to Ontario-based companies.
"All levels of government should support Canada's only domestically designed, constructed, supplied, and serviced large nuclear reactor," stated Joe St. Julian, President, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis. "This approach safeguards Canadian employment, sustains competitive wages, strengthens the national economy, and ensures energy security at a time when a proactive commitment to Canada's economic independence must be facilitated through sound public policy."
CANDU nuclear technology is owned by the Government of Canada, with Candu Energy as the exclusive licensee and original equipment manufacturer. CANDU reactors use natural uranium fuel, which is abundant in Canada and does not require foreign enrichment. Approximately 90% of the supply chain for these reactors is domestic, supporting an estimated 89,000 jobs across various professional and skilled trades. Canada has a proud history of nuclear power development and was the second country to generate commercial nuclear power.
CANDU technology: unparalleled economic impact
In 2024, a Conference Board of Canada study demonstrated that the manufacturing, engineering, and construction phase of a new four-unit CANDU reactor nuclear power station in Canada would generate about $41 billion in GDP equivalent to 20,000+ full time jobs and 324,000+ person-years of employment. This is in addition to almost $50 billion of GDP and 3,500 full-time equivalent jobs per year during the plant's operations phase. It would also generate $29 billion in additional tax revenue across municipal, provincial and federal governments over the 85-year life cycle of the plant, from design to decommissioning.
Growth equals greater Canadian employment
Candu Energy has hired more than 1,250 new employees since early 2024 and will likely surpass a total headcount of 2,700 by the end of 2025. Jobs in the nuclear industry are well-paid, highly technical roles. Across Canada, an impressive 89% of nuclear jobs are classified as high-skill positions, encompassing both professional roles requiring university degrees and specialized technical trades. The nuclear industry’s need for skilled labour further solidifies its contribution to Canada’s knowledge-based economy and long-term prosperity.
In April 2025, Candu Energy concluded Preferred Vendor Agreements with a series of local CANDU suppliers. These agreements will accelerate the refurbishments and new builds of CANDU reactors in Canada and around the world: supporting Canada’s energy independence via a strong and integrated domestic supply chain. They will further incentivize investment in Ontario in particular, as the preferred vendors prepare to support the development of new CANDU reactors. The economic benefit to Ontario of these agreements will grow as more jurisdictions choose CANDU to support their nuclear ambitions. There will also be several opportunities for preferred vendors to benefit from CANDU reactor export opportunities.
AtkinsRéalis launched the Canadians for CANDU campaign in 2024 to promote the deployment of CANDU nuclear technology at home and abroad. The campaign is spearheaded by Co-Chairs the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, and former Ontario Premier Mike Harris. To date, 33 organizations—including groups in organized labour, skilled trades, nuclear medicine, education, and Indigenous communities—have joined the movement as ambassadors.
About AtkinsRéalis
Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital. News and information are available at www.atkinsrealis.com or follow us LinkedIn.
About AtkinsRéalis’ Nuclear Sector
AtkinsRéalis has over 70 years of global nuclear expertise, delivering nuclear technology products and full-service solutions to nuclear utilities around the world. AtkinsRéalis is the steward of CANDU® nuclear technology, operating on four continents, and provides advisory and engineering services to other nuclear developers. With an innovative technology portfolio, including access to over 500 patented solutions, AtkinsRéalis solves technically complex challenges across the whole nuclear lifecycle from design and new build through asset management and from life extension and late life management through decommissioning and waste management. AtkinsRéalis operates and manages government nuclear research sites, transforming ageing infrastructure and safely managing legacy nuclear waste. AtkinsRéalis’ CANDU technology also allows for the co-production of medical radioisotopes for cancer detection and treatment. The company also supports cancer treatment through its partnership with TerraPower to extract isotopes from legacy nuclear material. Learn more on our Nuclear market page.
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