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Plans are already underway to evaluate the possibility of large nuclear reactors being developed in Saskatchewan, the provincial government announced Wednesday.
Work on developing small modular reactors (SMRs) will also continue, according to the province.
At a news conference, Jeremy Harrison, Minister for SaskPower, said the process for selecting a large nuclear site will be collaborative with site selection for SMRs.
SaskPower’s first small modular reactor (SMR) project is expected to begin later this year near Estevan.
“We have been working in a less formal context as a part of that energy security strategy, looking at large-scale nuclear, but today we are formally initiating that technology selection process,” Harrison said.
“It’s a process that takes time and we estimate that from the point of a large-scale nuclear decision, it can take up to 15 years or longer, which is much too long … But that means we need to start now.”
The reactors would be powered by uranium sourced in Saskatchewan.
Idea has come up before
This isn’t the first time a large-scale nuclear reactor project has been pitched in Saskatchewan.
In 2008, Bruce Power, owned by Cameco Corporation, researched the possibility of building multiple nuclear reactor sites, either in Alberta or Saskatchewan.
A 2007 consultant report from SaskPower found the Lake Diefenbaker area near Elbow would be the best place for a power plant, because nuclear power requires a large water supply.
Growth opportunities
Harrison said this initiative will support the provincial economy and expand career opportunities. Export possibilities, both within Canada and internationally, would go along with it, he said.
“This really is an enormous opportunity for this province. We really look forward to the next number of months and years.”
The province is working with GE-Hitachi on the SMR, but will now begin considering how technology will work for a larger-scale version of a similar project.
Small modular nuclear reactors are being touted as a key piece of the future of clean energy and construction is now underway in Ontario on the first of its kind in the G7. For The National, CBC’s Susan Ormiston breaks down what’s behind the hype and why some say Canada should proceed with caution.
“SMRs are an important first step towards adding more reliable baseload power,” SaskPower CEO Rupen Pandya said.
“But planning for large reactors must begin now to prepare for the future.”
While in Ottawa for the premiers’ meeting, Premier Scott Moe touched on the importance of nuclear power in the province.
“Our future is very much going to be a nuclear power future in the province,” he said.
“So we need to transition to that, ensuring that we’re utilizing the assets that we have so that our power grid is reliable and affordable.”
