Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has signed a host-municipality agreement with Port Hope to advance a new large-scale nuclear project; a move provincial officials describe as a ‘critical step’ toward building what could become the largest nuclear power generating station in the world. The company submitted its initial project description to Canada’s Impact Assessment Agency on 12 January 2026, formally launching federal review. The project is expected to generate about 1,700 local jobs and more than 10,000 jobs across Ontario if built.

The initiative also forms part of a broader provincial nuclear expansion strategy that includes billion-dollar refurbishments at existing stations, construction of four small modular reactors (SMRs) at Darlington nuclear site, and potential additional large-scale capacity at the Bruce site.

Project Overview

Project: Proposed large-scale nuclear generating station at Wesleyville/Port Hope region

Location: Municipality of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada

Status: Early development agreement signed. Initial project description also submitted to federal regulator

Capacity: Designed to power up to 10 million homes

Project Importance: Anchor what officials describe as the world’s largest nuclear station initiative

Project Factsheet for the Largest Nuclear Power Generating Station in the World at Port Hope, Ontario

Developer: Ontario Power Generation (OPG)

Municipality partner: Port Hope, Ontario

Federal regulator: Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Estimated jobs: 1,700 local and more than10,000 province-wide

Strategic importance: Forms basis for the largest nuclear station initiative in the world

Stakeholders and Contractors Involved in the Development

• Ontario Power Generation as project developer and operator
• Government of Ontario as policy sponsor and project coordinator
• Municipality of Port Hope as host community partner
• Impact Assessment Agency of Canada as federal regulator

Ontario to Build Largest Nuclear Power Generating Station in the World at Port Hope: Why it Matters

Ontario relies heavily on nuclear generation, with roughly 17 reactors – mostly in the province – providing about 12.7 GW of capacity. This is about 15 percent of Canada’s electricity supply.

Existing facilities also rank among the largest in the world. For example, the Bruce site operates eight reactors totaling about 6,400 MW and supplies nearly 30 percent of Ontario’s electricity.

The proposed new station in Port Hope would therefore represent not just incremental growth but a major expansion of base-load clean power. This, as clearly put by Ontario officials, is aimed at meeting rising demand from electrification, industry, and the populace.

Outlook on the Proposed Nuclear Energy Development in Canada

Provincial planning documents show Ontario preparing sites and conducting early engagement for large nuclear projects required in the 2030s and beyond.

At the Bruce site specifically, a proposed expansion known as ‘Bruce C’ could add up to 4,800 MW of new zero-emissions capacity if approved.

Together with the Port Hope initiative, these efforts are a show of coordinated strategy. The coordination here is in terms of refurbishing existing reactors, deploying SMRs, and developing new gigawatt-scale stations to secure long-term grid reliability.

Ontario to Build Largest Nuclear Power Generating Station in the World at Port Hope: What to Expect

The announcement marks an early step. This means the project still faces regulatory approvals, environmental assessment, and financing decisions. Large nuclear plants historically follow longer development timelines and complex approvals, making project schedule an important area to watch for.