Session Details
Powering the Future: SMRs, Critical Minerals, and Energy Security will take place on March 2, 2026, in Toronto as a side event during PDAC 2026. Building on the momentum of last year’s successful inaugural forum, the program will convene policymakers, regulators, government ministers and other senior government representatives, mining and nuclear industry leaders, Indigenous partners, investors and international organizations for a practical discussion on the rapidly tightening link between critical minerals and uranium supply, energy security and new nuclear deployment.
The 2026 agenda will examine the two-way nexus between small modular reactors (SMRs) and critical minerals. It will explore how SMRs can provide reliable, low-carbon electricity and heat to enable decarbonized mining and mineral processing, including in remote and off-grid settings. It will also address how expanding nuclear deployment, including the nuclear fuel cycle and the broader nuclear supply chain, is driving new demand for critical minerals, uranium and industrial capabilities that Canada is well-positioned to supply.
Last year, the forum welcomed 200-plus participants from Canada and abroad and was co-hosted with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, with key insights captured in a published Key Takeaways report.