Sask. takes next step on small modular nuclear reactors

Another step has been taken toward Saskatchewan possibly adding small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to its power grid.

On Monday, Saskatchewan joined the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick and Albert to release a strategic plan for the deployment of SMRs. The group signed a Memorandum of Understanding in December of 2019 — Alberta signed on in April of 2021 — to figure out how to implement and expand SMRs in Canada.

“SMR technology has the potential to help our economies grow and prosper while contributing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience to the effects of climate change,” Don Morgan, the minister responsible for SaskPower, said in his prepared remarks.

While SaskPower is adding a lot of renewable power to the grid, it still relies on coal and natural gas for baseload power — power that can be accessed for the basic needs of the grid at any time.

Morgan said the province hasn’t taken anything off the table when it comes to power, and SMRs are one of the options to provide baseload power as coal and natural gas are phased out.

“The strategic direction being announced today is important, not just for Saskatchewan, but for setting a path for a cleaner energy future for the entire country,” Morgan said.

The strategic plan identified five priority areas for SMR development and deployment:

• Positioning Canada as an exporter of global SMR technology by propelling three separate streams of SMR development, covering both on-grid and off-grid applications;
• Promoting a strong nuclear regulatory framework that focuses on the health and safety of the public and the environment while ensuring reasonable costs and timelines;
• Securing federal government commitments on financial and policy support for new SMR technologies that would lead to vast economic benefits across the country and help meet our emissions reduction targets;
• Creating opportunities for participation from Indigenous communities and public engagement; and,
• Working with the federal government and nuclear operators on a robust nuclear waste management plan for SMRs.

Saskatchewan is still several years away from making a final decision on SMR deployment, but Morgan said the government needs to start planning now. The next steps for Saskatchewan in the process include setting up licensing and regulations provincially and federally, and engagement with the public.

“I think this is one of the best options that we have for electrical generation for our province, but I am one person. We have over a million people in the province. I’d want to make sure that we’ve got strong support for it all the way across the province,” said Morgan.

Morgan said the project would trigger the government’s duty to consult with First Nations groups so he wants to see what they have to say on the matter as well.

The minister explained it’s critical people feel comfortable with the process, and can look to Ontario for that.

“I think it’s important for people in our province to know and understand what’s taken place with the CANDU fleet in Ontario and as they transition to SMRs, to make sure they feel comfortable with it, that they understand how the processes work (and) how the regulatory processes work so that they can feel safe with it,” said Morgan.

Ontario already uses nuclear power and has a plan to have an SMR online in 2028 or 2029. Morgan said Saskatchewan will be watching closely how that project goes, both in process and cost, to see if it will work for Saskatchewan.

Each SMR could cost billions of dollars and Morgan said that means Saskatchewan would need significant help from the federal government.