Small modular reactors to be part of research between Cameco, Bruce Power

A corporate partnership crossing provincial borders marks another step toward fulfilling the province’s hope of deploying nuclear power in Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon-based uranium producer Cameco has long had a partnership with Bruce Power, supplying fuel to Ontario’s biggest nuclear power producer.

On Thursday morning, the companies announced they will create the Centre for Next Generation Nuclear Technologies, a research hub that will explore, among other innovations, small modular reactors (SMR).

Smaller than standard-sized ones, SMRs produce between 50 and 300 megawatts of electricity, emissions free.

Speaking at a virtual news conference, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said nuclear power will be essential to a green future.

“We are not going to be able to deal with things like climate change or very broad issues if we are not going to commit to integrating nuclear power into our systems. It has to be part of the solutions. We simply are unable to get the job done without it,” Moe said.

In addition to providing baseload power for an electrical grid, Moe said nuclear power would benefit rural and remote communities.

The announcement Thursday came two months after the province unveiled the Nuclear Secretariat, which has a core mandate to come up with a plan to develop and deploy SMRs.

In December, Moe signed a memorandum of understanding with the premiers of Ontario and New Brunswick to collaborate to that end.

However, that is a reality that remains far off into the future with SaskPower looking to add nuclear to its supply mix in the early 2030s.

Until then, the province’s plan to reduce emissions from power generation is to use natural gas with renewables.

Cameco is Bruce Power’s fuel supplier until 2030, and provides parts for the company’s reactor replacement projects.

The companies also announced Cameco will supply specialized fuel bundles for Bruce Power’s Unit 6 reactor once it restarts in 2024.