Moe tells summit small modular reactors ‘quite likely’ for Estevan

Premier Scott Moe suggested on Monday that SaskPower may have decided on a location for any potential small modular reactors in the province.

Moe gave the opening address at the Food, Fuel & Fertilizer Summit in Regina. In his speech, he talked about utilizing uranium in Saskatchewan and that SaskPower was actively looking at SMRs being “placed, quite likely, in the Estevan area.”

Previously, the Crown had only said it was doing work to decide whether a potential reactor would go in the Estevan area or the Elbow area. At a recent announcement, SaskPower’s CEO said there could be an announcement on the location later this year.

A final decision on whether Saskatchewan will utilize nuclear power isn’t expected until 2029.

The summit

The Food, Fuel & Fertilizer Summit intends to showcase to the world what Saskatchewan has to offer — phrasing that Premier Moe frequently uses in interviews and public remarks.

The summit features several speakers – a who’s who of Saskatchewan business and familiar political faces: Premier Scott Moe, former Premier Brad Wall and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The premier also spoke in his opening address about how important it is to bring industries together that are making investments, creating wealth and jobs in Saskatchewan communities. He used many of the points he brings up often when talking about the province, touting Saskatchewan’s industry and offerings for nearly 40 minutes at the summit in Regina.

“This province, we have what the world needs today and what the world is going to need into the future – we have the food, we have the fuel and we have the fertilizer,” said Moe.

Moe also took part in an on-stage chat with former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, with Harper taking the opportunity to praise the Saskatchewan government on a few occasions.

He said the provincial government deserves credit on a few counts when related to business, including being present on the ground in many areas internationally.

“This really matters, it’s hard to have a relationship unless you’re there and you’re talking to people and you’re making those linkages and keeping them permanent,” said Harper.

More than 400 people attended the conference this week, according to Prabha Ramaswamy, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. The chamber put on the event, with support from the provincial government and others.

The conference was being touted as a global summit, and Ramaswamy said it’s about showcasing the opportunities in Saskatchewan, and the “leading role” the province has to play in terms of global food and energy security.

“I hope that people leave this summit understanding the impact that this province can have in Canada, as well as globally,” said Ramaswamy.

About 50 of the 400 attendees were from out of Saskatchewan, and Ramaswamy said there were international dignitaries in attendance, including from the U.K. and Africa.

“What we did here, with the summit being global in focus, is try to bring the rest of the world to Saskatchewan,” she explained.

She hoped the summit will help people make useful connections to grow their business and help to attract investors to Saskatchewan.

In a statement, the Government of Saskatchewan said it supported the chamber with the development of the program for the summit and contributed $25,000 to the event. Ramaswamy said the provincial government did help in bringing dignitaries and diplomats to the conference.