Northern Ontario Chosen for Canada’s $26 Billion Nuclear Waste Repository

Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation agree to host deep geological storage site after decade-long selection process.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has selected the Ignace area in northern Ontario for Canada’s deep geological repository for nuclear waste.
The $26 billion project follows over a decade of engagement with communities and scientific assessments, narrowing down from 22 initial locations to two finalists.
Both the Township of Ignace and the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation approved moving forward with the project through community votes.
Regulatory approvals and licensing are expected to take about 10 years, followed by another decade of construction, with waste storage projected to last 50 to 60 years.
The project is part of Canada’s Adaptive Phased Management plan, which aligns with international best practices for long-term nuclear waste safety.