Westinghouse, First Nations sign MoU to look at SMR opportunities

Thursday, 22 May 2025

The Memorandum of Understanding also includes the assessment of opportunities for using Westinghouse’s Long Duration Energy Storage technology at the Port of Belledune, which is in New Brunswick.

Pabineau First Nation and Eel River Bar First Nation are both Mi’kmaq communities located in northern New Brunswick. As Indigenous rightsholders at the Port of Belledune, both communities work with the port to support regional economic development.

"Pabineau First Nation is excited to sign this MoU with Westinghouse and Eel River Bar for opportunities that will arise from development in the SMR sector. We believe partnership is the key to success, and growing the economy of the province not only benefits First Nations but the whole province," said Chief Terry Richardson of the Pabineau First Nation.

"The Port of Belledune offers a great opportunity with land and a deep-water port that gives access to world markets. We look forward to continuing to develop our relationship with Westinghouse."

Eel River Bar First Nation Chief Jake Caplin said the agreement represents a forward-looking partnership that puts the two First Nations communities at the centre of "meaningful" economic and environmental progress. "We're proud to be part of clean energy innovation in our territory that will benefit our community members for generations to come," he said.

"Indigenous communities are important partners to Westinghouse as we develop infrastructure projects and new build opportunities in New Brunswick," Westinghouse Canada President John Gorman said. "We are pleased to work with Pabineau and Eel River Bar First Nations to explore the deployment of the AP300 SMR, which is based on the proven and operating AP1000 reactor."

The Belledune Port Authority (BPA) manages the infrastructure and assets of the Port of Belledune in northern New Brunswick. With four marine terminals and 1,600 acres of industrial-zoned land, the Atlantic Ocean port offers some of the shortest sea shipping routes to Europe. The authority's Green Energy Hub is a development district for clean energy projects, along with complementary, low-carbon industries to support regional economic growth. In 2022, the BPA announced plans to pursue the use of SMR technology as part of a future expansion at the port, with proposals for an ARC Clean Technology Canada ARC-100 reactor to provide energy for hydrogen production and other industries.

Westinghouse and the North Shore Mi'kmaq Tribal Council have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote the selection and deployment of Westinghouse technology for nuclear new build projects in New Brunswick.