Duncan says SaskPower just investigating whether nuclear is right for Sask.

On Monday — one day after Premier Scott Moe signed a memorandum of understanding regarding small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) — Saskatchewan’s minister responsible for SaskPower said nuclear power is a possibility, but not for years.

Dustin Duncan explained that generating nuclear power in Saskatchewan’s isn’t a done deal.

“We’re looking at every available option,” he said. “I think what we’re seeing now is a significant variety in our generation of electricity, in our generating mix going forward, and we just wanted to have a more formal working agreement with the two jurisdictions that do have experience in nuclear power, and whether or not this is possible for the province.”

The MOU between Moe, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is to work together on the development and deployment of SMRs.

Duncan said there already was an MOU with Ontario on this matter, but this acknowledges the work that is already happening and brings New Brunswick into the mix.

When it comes to the cost for the investigative work, Duncan said there aren’t too many dollar signs attached until the province gets further down the road for things like permitting and licensing.

Duncan said a few times that things are in a state of flux, and decisions haven’t been made yet.

“It’s, at a pretty high level, a scenario that could be part of SaskPower’s mix going forward but, right now, the plan still is natural gas with renewables … and/or a combination of that and looking at perhaps a retrofit of one of the coal-fired units,” said Duncan.

He talked about possible benefits to the technology, including the ability to move the reactors to where they might be needed and possibilities to provide cheaper energy in northern Saskatchewan or to mining operations. He said that though there wouldn’t be as many jobs available, there could be jobs in this for southeast Saskatchewan.

And Duncan said that SMRs, along with SaskPower’s current goals around renewables, could mean Saskatchewan could get power-generating emissions down to near zero.

“The MOU is really the first step to a full-scale investigation whether or not nuclear is a part of Saskatchewan’s future on the electricity side,” he said.

Duncan said getting to an actual decision on this could be a lengthy process, but he explained that — in terms of getting through the regulatory process — the utility will have to start getting serious about things early in the next decade.