Front-End Loading (FEL) is a staged project-development process used to progressively define and assess a potential project before significant decisions or commitments are made. FEL-1 is the earliest stage, focused on establishing an initial understanding of feasibility, identifying key requirements and uncertainties, and determining whether there is sufficient basis for more detailed work.

For the Nuclear Research Reactor FEL-1 Feasibility Study, GIEMS will bring together preliminary findings across technical; Indigenous, environmental, and societal; business and economic; and research, testing, and training considerations. This work will help determine whether there is a viable basis for a future nuclear research reactor project at the University of Saskatchewan's Saskatoon campus and whether it should advance to FEL-2 for further scope development.

GIEMS convenes post-secondary institutions, industry, governments, and communities to coordinate research, innovation, and training across energy, minerals, and society. Part of that role is bringing together the expertise and perspectives needed to examine emerging opportunities that could contribute to Saskatchewan's research, training, and innovation capacity.

The Nuclear Research Reactor FEL-1 Feasibility Study provides a structured way to determine whether nuclear research reactor infrastructure could have a viable role within Saskatchewan's research, testing, and training environment. GIEMS is leading and coordinating the study, supported by specialized expertise across technical; Indigenous, environmental, and societal; business and economic; and research, testing, and training considerations. The findings from these areas will be integrated to build a comprehensive understanding of feasibility and inform whether further scope development should be considered.

The University of Saskatchewan’s Saskatoon campus is the potential location being assessed through the FEL-1 study. This provides a defined institutional and site context in which to examine the requirements and considerations associated with potential nuclear research reactor deployment.

While the potential location is at USask, the study is broader than the needs of a single institution. In particular, the research, testing, and training assessment will examine potential demand, applications, and user requirements across Saskatchewan’s post-secondary and research environment and consider how a potential facility could interact with existing research infrastructure.

The FEL-1 study will assess feasibility across four interconnected areas: technical; Indigenous, environmental, and societal; business and economic; and research, testing, and training.

Together, these areas will examine what would be required for a potential nuclear research reactor to be technically feasible, appropriately informed by Indigenous, environmental, and societal considerations, operationally and economically sustainable, and responsive to potential research, testing, and training needs.

GIEMS will bring the findings from these areas together as part of the overall FEL-1 assessment. This integrated approach is intended to provide a more complete understanding of feasibility rather than considering any one aspect in isolation.

The FEL-1 study is an early step in determining whether there is a viable basis for a future nuclear research reactor project at the University of Saskatchewan. Its purpose is to develop the preliminary evidence needed to understand feasibility and determine whether further scope development should be considered.

The findings from FEL-1 will inform what happens next. If the study supports further development, a subsequent FEL-2 phase would involve more detailed scope development and assessment. Progression beyond FEL-1 is therefore conditional on the findings of the study and subsequent decision-making.

Yes. Understanding broader community and societal perspectives is an important part of assessing the feasibility of a potential nuclear research reactor.

The Indigenous Engagement, Environmental, & Societal Assessment will include opportunities to gather input from relevant rightsholders, stakeholders, and communities as part of the FEL-1 study. The work will consider Indigenous perspectives and knowledge, broader societal perspectives, and environmental and land-use considerations and will help identify issues, opportunities, and areas requiring further assessment.

The approach to engagement will be developed as part of this workstream, including consideration of how different rightsholders, stakeholders, and communities should be appropriately engaged.

GIEMS is leading and coordinating the FEL-1 study and will procure specialized expertise through four independently competed Request for Proposal (RFP) work packages:

• Specialized Technical Expertise

• Indigenous Engagement, Environmental, & Societal Assessment

• Business & Economic Assessment

• Research, Testing, & Training Assessment

The four workstreams will contribute specialized findings and expertise to the overall study. GIEMS will integrate the findings across the assessment areas and retain responsibility for overall project management and final FEL-1 reporting.

The RFPs will be posted publicly through SaskTenders. All procurement-specific questions and communications will be managed through the formal SaskTenders process.

The FEL-1 study is expected to be completed in Spring 2027.

The work will proceed through procurement and contract award, study commencement, assessment and integration of findings, and completion of the final FEL-1 study. The findings will then inform consideration of whether further scope development should proceed.

Any activity beyond FEL-1 will depend on the study findings and subsequent decision-making.