Pabineau First Nation, Eel River Bar First Nation and Prodigy Clean Energy to Deploy Canada’s First Transportable Nuclear Power Plant (TNPP)

Pilot Project establishes commercial precedent for a Prodigy TNPP fleet. BWXT Canada Ltd. and Kinectrics Inc. to advance licensing and supply chain development.

BELLEDUNE, New Brunswick--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Pabineau First Nation, Eel River Bar First Nation, and Prodigy Clean Energy announce an Indigenous-led nuclear new build proposal in Belledune, New Brunswick. Driven by an exclusive Agreement, the partners plan to deploy an up to 50 MWe full-scale Prodigy Transportable Nuclear Power Plant (TNPP) within the traditional territory of the Pabineau and Eel River Bar First Nations. The Prodigy TNPP Pilot Project will be First Nations-owned and validate plant logistics and operational requirements, creating the commercial blueprint to mass deploy a TNPP fleet across Canada's North and global export markets. The project targets in-service operation by the early 2030s.

At peak output, the TNPP will supply clean baseload energy to power up to 40,000 homes. Underscoring its strategic importance, the Government of New Brunswick has signed a Letter of Intent to offtake the generated electricity, and has formally notified Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) of its institutional support and intent to advance the project to Canada's federal Major Projects Office (MPO) as a nationally transformative infrastructure initiative.

“Canada’s new Nuclear Energy Strategy is creating opportunities to strengthen our energy security, advance Canadian innovation and support economic growth. I am very pleased to see Pabineau First Nation and Eel River Bar First Nation at the forefront of this initiative. Projects like this have the potential to position New Brunswick as a leader in Canada’s clean energy future while creating good jobs and new opportunities for our region,” said Serge Cormier, Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst, New Brunswick.

“Access to resilient, reliable and secure energy underpins Canada’s ability to protect, connect and transform the North. This project is a made-in-Canada, nation-building opportunity to deliver on this, exemplifying how Canada's strategic national interests and Indigenous reconciliation can advance together. By deploying the first Prodigy TNPP and anchoring the supply chain here in New Brunswick, we are demonstrating the strength and leadership of the province, our First Nations, and our nuclear-trained workforce, to support Northern sovereignty and Canada’s new Nuclear Energy Strategy. This project has potential to supply clean energy for Northern New Brunswick communities and support significant regional economic development,” said The Honourable René Legacy, Deputy Premier, Minister Responsible for Energy, New Brunswick.

Prodigy’s TNPP is a proprietary Canadian nuclear technology engineered to package microreactors and Small Modular Reactors for safe and secure deployment over their multi-decade lifecycle. The modular power plant infrastructure is reactor agnostic, offering scalable power output customization and flexibility for coastal marine or land installation. TNPPs can be factory-built, shipped and installed in ~18 months, providing a rapidly-deployed clean and reliable energy solution for Northern ports, communities, defence installations and critical mineral operations. The plant arrives at the deployment location fully assembled, ready for fueling and related fuel-in commissioning. By optimizing logistics, TNPPs resolve remote construction risks, significantly reducing nuclear project CAPEX, environmental impact, and accelerating delivery timelines. The power plant is purpose-designed to be completely removed at the end of its operational life for centralized decommissioning, eliminating concerns around legacy waste. TNPPs are dry carried as cargo from factory to deployment site by heavy lift ship, positioning them to service a large domestic and international energy market.

“We in Pabineau First Nation are proud to partner with Eel River Bar First Nation, Prodigy, and the province of New Brunswick, to lead in providing a solution for energy security and food security for our brothers and sisters in the Northern regions of Canada. By integrating this Canadian clean baseload energy technology with Indigenous ownership and economic participation, this initiative establishes a replicable model to deploy transportable nuclear power infrastructure across Canada, especially in Northern and Arctic regions where energy sovereignty is vital to community prosperity and economic reconciliation. This project will further demonstrate an export-ready power plant for markets outside of Canada, generating prosperity not only for Indigenous Peoples and New Brunswick, but also for the country as a whole,” said Chief Terry Richardson, Pabineau First Nation.

“Prodigy has put First Nations first since day one, prioritizing deep consultation, mutual learning, community capacity building, and Indigenous equity leadership. Eel River Bar First Nation is excited to work with Pabineau First Nation, Prodigy, and the Government of New Brunswick, to progress the project through public engagement and key permitting milestones,” said Chief Chris George, Eel River Bar First Nation.

The proposed Prodigy TNPP Pilot Project will deploy a commercial electricity-generating facility and construct a new campus in Belledune, featuring: a centralized Operations and Maintenance hub to monitor and service a Northern TNPP fleet and train future plant workers; and a state-of-the-art Indigenous Energy Innovation Visitor Centre. The power plant itself is expected to generate over 150 jobs during site preparation and 40 permanent jobs on site.

“The successful integration of microreactors and Transportable Nuclear Power Plants into Canada's Northern and Arctic energy portfolio begins with demonstrating a commercially operating facility south of 60 in an established nuclear jurisdiction,” said Mathias Trojer, President and CEO of Prodigy Clean Energy. “This deployment strategy is consensus-driven, reflecting years of dedicated engagement with Northern Indigenous Rights Holders, provincial and federal governments, utilities, and industry. Prodigy is honoured to partner with Pabineau First Nation, Eel River Bar First Nation, and the province of New Brunswick on this historic initiative.”

Strategic collaborators BWXT Canada Ltd. and Kinectrics Inc., a BWXT-owned company, will support advancement of licensing and supply chain development.

“BWXT has a strong track record delivering strategic nuclear infrastructure that supports national resilience. Together with Kinectrics, we bring deep capacity and expertise across Canada’s nuclear lifecycle, backed by world-class nuclear engineering and manufacturing. We look forward to supporting Prodigy, Pabineau First Nation, Eel River Bar First Nation, and the province of New Brunswick on this pioneering TNPP pilot project,” said John MacQuarrie, President of Commercial Operations, BWXT.

In the upcoming months, the project team will establish the proponent venture organization and initiate critical-path activities, including site selection and characterisation in readiness for licensing, and finalizing the down selection of a reactor technology demonstrably ready by 2032 for commercial electricity generation. Collectively, these actions lay the groundwork for submitting the Licence to Prepare Site application, with the objective of achieving a Final Investment Decision within 18 months. A qualified nuclear operating organization, who will become the facility licensee, will be procured during the initial planning phase of the project.