SaskPower signs nuclear fuel supply MOU with Cameco, Westinghouse

SaskPower is working with Cameco and Westinghouse to evaluate both the potential of new reactor technologies and the supply chains required to provide nuclear fuel in the future.

On Monday the three companies announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding agreeing to explore commercial pathways to deploy Westinghouse reactors, including “evaluation of a Saskatchewan-based nuclear supply chain to support nuclear energy projects, including fuel.”

Two types of Westinghouse reactors are specifically mentioned in the agreement, the AP1000 reactor and the AP300 small modular reactor (SMR). The AP1000 is already generating power in the United States and China and has also been selected for use in Poland, Ukraine and Bulgaria. Westinghouse is hoping the newer AP300 reactors will be certified by 2027, with the first construction targeted to begin in 2030. That reactor has already been selected for use in the UK, with other groups in Europe and North America also taking a hard look.

The agreement also identifies further opportunities for collaborative research, development and training “in partnership with Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions.”

While SaskPower has not yet committed to moving ahead with nuclear power, the Crown corporation has been making significant investments into nuclear technology ahead of a final decision on the construction of a SMR in 2029. SaskPower said any reactor it builds in the province will be fueled with Saskatchewan uranium.

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Rupen Pandya, SaskPower’s president and CEO, said the company is taking advantage of organizations with significant experience in the nuclear power industry to help it make responsible, informed decisions about the technology.

“Collaborating on nuclear fuel supply and evaluating various technologies will only serve to enhance our current small modular reactor development work and planning around workforce and the future of Saskatchewan’s power system,” Pandya said in a statement.

Patrick Fragman, president and CEO of Westinghouse, said the company is proud to work alongside SaskPower, sharing its industry-leading expertise.

“We look forward to helping SaskPower bring carbon-free electricity to Saskatchewan for generations to come,” Fragman said in a statement.

Fragman’s comments were echoed by Tim Gitzel, CEO of Cameco, who said the company has a significant presence in Saskatchewan and is ready for a role in the province’s potential nuclear future.

“We look forward to assessing the potential role Cameco and Westinghouse could play in decarbonizing Saskatchewan’s power grid, an ambitious and important goal for the province’s future,” Gitzel said.