Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd has announced new management for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories under the government-owned, contractor-operated (GoCo) model.
AECL announced Thursday that Nuclear Laboratories Partners of Canada Inc has been selected as the preferred bidder for the contract.
Nuclear Laboratories Partners of Canada is a partnership with three primary partners, BWXT Government Group, Amentum Environment & Energy, and Kinectrics Inc, with Battelle Memorial Institute included as key subcontractor, AECL said in its announcement.
“Nuclear Laboratories Partners of Canada Inc brings significant experience in managing sites similar to AECL’s, including a management team with extensive and relevant experience working in the Canadian nuclear and energy context,” the announcement said.
Nuclear Laboratories Partners of Canada (NLPC) will assume responsibility of CNL, with Dennis Carr as president and CEO, on September 13, 2025, following a “transition period that will commence in the coming weeks.”
NLPC’s contract will include the management of all AECL’s sites and assets, including the Chalk River Laboratories and environmental remediation projects in Port Hope, Ontario, at the Whiteshell Laboratories site in Pinawa, Manitoba, and at other AECL sites in Canada.
“Of particular importance will be the advancement of AECL’s agendas for nuclear science and technology, research, and innovation that will leverage capabilities at the Chalk River Laboratories to address the priorities of Canada, including climate change.”
Current CNL president Jack Craig welcomed the announcement.
“This is welcome news for the future of Canada’s national nuclear laboratories, putting our operations into the hands of a parent company with extensive experience managing national-scale nuclear sites, laboratories and projects, and whose management team brings knowledge and expertise that will benefit the Canadian nuclear industry,” he said.
“With a scope of work that includes Canada’s largest and most complex decommissioning and remediation projects, execution of AECL’s innovation agenda in clean energy, health sciences and nuclear security, and the continued renewal of the Chalk River Laboratories campus, Nuclear Laboratories Partners of Canada’s experience and expertise will be invaluable to all that we do.”
According to the NLPC website, new president Dennis Carr is a “seasoned executive with over 40 years of experience in managing complex nuclear operations, decommissioning and decontamination (D&D), and waste management activities.”
“Among his many nuclear operations and cleanup successes, he led 7,000 personnel at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Savannah River Site and oversaw the Savannah River National Laboratory.
“Earlier in his career he led the contractor team responsible for the decommissioning of the US DOE Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the day-to-day operations to achieve the final end state for the US DOE Feed Materials Production Center in Fernald, Ohio.”
In a “transition bulletin” aimed at CNL employees, Carr said NLPC was “thrilled to be selected as the preferred bidder to manage and operate Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.”
“All of us at NLPC, including our leadership team and additional staff from our parent companies, have been preparing to manage this transition in a way that minimizes the interruptions on CNL work while still allowing us to get acquainted with your work and better understand day-to-day operations across the various locations.”
Having worked other contract transitions in his career, Carr said, “I understand that a contract changebrings the possibility of distraction from the current work scope.”
“Safety is a non-negotiable priority for myself and NLPC more broadly, so I would encourage everyone to stay focused on the job at hand.
“We will be working closely with AECL and the CNL transition team during transition and will coordinate any onsite employee interactions with them.”
In closing, Carr said he wanted to “commend the entire CNL workforce for the impressive and important work you have done to date.”
“Canada deserves the best science that we can offer, and our local communities are depending on us to protect the environment where we all live and work.
“Your efforts are having an important impact now and for future generations, and I’m looking forward to joining you in CNL’s critical missions.”
Among NLPC’s leadership team is at least one familiar face. John Osborne of Deep River will be NLPC’s chief nuclear officer.
Osborne is a “proven transformational leader with 34 years of experience in operations, including 24 years of success in roles of increasing responsibility at CNL,” the NLPC website says.
“He provides a valuable perspective about CNL’s strengths and challenges from his work for AECL and as a general manager and senior director with responsibilities at Chalk River, Whiteshell, and Port Hope, including working as general manager for the National Research Universal Reactor.”
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