Canada’s plan to build 10 new nuclear reactors presents an opportunity to secure a critical resource for the country’s emerging quantum technology sector: helium-3. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson’s recent announcement on expanding nuclear capacity highlights not only energy production goals but also the potential to ethically produce and stockpile helium-3, a rare isotope essential for quantum computing, sensing, and secure communications.

Helium-3 is a stable, non-radioactive isotope of helium that plays a crucial role in cryogenic systems, which cool quantum bits—or qubits—to near absolute zero temperatures required for advanced quantum technologies. Due to its rarity, helium-3 is measured in gaseous litres rather than conventional weight units, and it occurs in only about 7.2 parts per trillion in Earth’s atmosphere. It cannot be artificially manufactured on demand, making its supply extremely limited.

While other countries, including the United States and European Union members, rely primarily on helium-3 derived from nuclear weapons maintenance programs or lunar mining initiatives, Canada can access it as a byproduct of civilian nuclear power. Specifically, the Canadian Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactors, which use heavy water as a moderator, produce helium-3 naturally through the decay of tritium. Ontario Power Generation is currently harvesting helium-3 at its Darlington nuclear facility, positioning Canada as a pioneer in non-military helium-3 production.

In contrast, many nuclear technologies elsewhere do not generate helium-3 in significant quantities, making Canada’s CANDU reactors uniquely positioned to meet both domestic and global demand. The isotope is not only vital for quantum infrastructure but also critical for border security applications such as detecting illicit nuclear materials.

Christopher Landers, director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Isotope Research and Production, has emphasized helium-3’s expanding role in fields beyond quantum computing, including medical applications and fusion energy research, noting its supply is “moving at an exponential rate.” In response to growing demand and scarcity, countries like the U.S. and members of the European Union are pursuing lunar mining projects, with NASA having announced plans to partner on helium-3 harvesting missions starting as early as 2028.

Given these developments, experts suggest that Canada should designate helium-3 as a strategic critical resource, establishing a national reserve to ensure a reliable and affordable domestic supply for Canadian quantum technology firms and researchers. Such a move would strengthen Canada’s position in the global quantum race, safeguarding investments in a sector that could have significant economic and national security implications.

Canada’s existing resource management frameworks for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt provide a model for helium-3 planning. By capitalizing on the natural production capabilities of its nuclear reactors, Canada has the potential to become a leading global supplier of this rare isotope while supporting the advancement of next-generation technologies.