The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has been designated the primary organization responsible for developing micro-small Modular Reactors (microreactors) in the province.
Additionally, the SRC will hold the regulatory licenses and act as the licensed operator for microreactors in Saskatchewan during the early stages of commercial development.
This move will aim to reduce users’ risks and costs while ensuring consistency in safety practices, reactor operations, licensing, and public engagement for all microreactor operators in the province.
“The goal is to safely accelerate the commercial adoption of microreactors within the province over the next five to ten years, positioning Saskatchewan as a global leader in the nuclear microreactor supply chain,” stated Minister Responsible for SRC Jeremy Harrison. These deployments will create economic development opportunities and jobs.”
The SRC will offer a complete life cycle and integrated services on a commercial basis to industries and communities interested in establishing microreactor operations to support their business and economic development.
The announcements come after the Government of Saskatchewan allocated $80 million in funding to SRC in November last year for the demonstration of a microreactor in the province.
SRC President and CEO Mike Crabtree said that they will leverage the insights gained from the demonstration to support the Saskatchewan nuclear industry in understanding this technology and its potential for future projects.
“What we learn through the initial microreactor demonstration will help SRC provide a one-stop-shop for industrial companies and Indigenous communities interested in advancing microreactor projects in the province,” Crabtree said. “Microreactors offer a customized solution for Saskatchewan’s future energy needs and have the potential to be transformative for our economy, industry, and communities.”
This won’t be the SRC’s first time being the sole operator of a nuclear reactor. They previously operated a SLOWPOKE-2 nuclear research reactor for 38 years before decommissioning it in 2021.
