SNC’s Candu Energy signs international agreements

Canada and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy last November, and that agreement has now come into force. It could allow new cooperation between the two countries, including technology sharing and diverse joint projects. Nuclear energy can be used in a number of areas, including industry and power generation. The first project will be the construction of a $200-million facility for the conversion of uranium to UF6 (uranium hexafluoride), the final step before enrichment. Only after enrichment can uranium be used as nuclear fuel. Canada is one of just six countries that have conversion facilities at present.

The nuclear agreement with Kazakhstan comes just two weeks after SNC-Lavalin of Montreal announced a cooperation agreement with China Nuclear Power Engineering Company for the construction of two CANDU nuclear reactors at a power plant in Romania. Romania already has six CANDU reactors in operation, producing about 20 per cent of the country’s energy supply, according to SNC-Lavalin.

CANDU6-reactor-SNC-Lavalin-Candu-Energy-EDIWeekly
Advanced fuel CANDU reactors can use alternative fuels such as recovered uranium (RU) from the reprocessing of used light water reactor fuel, low-enriched uranium (LEU) and plutonium (Pu) mixed oxide, thorium and actinides, in addition to the conventional natural uranium. Candu is currently working with China to further develop thorium as an alternative fuel. Source: Candu Energy

SNC-Lavalin also signed a memorandum of understanding with the China National Nuclear Corporation to jointly develop power generation and other nuclear-related projects using Advanced Fuel CANDU (AFCR) technology. AFCR uses recycled uranium and thorium-based fuels, giving it an environmental advantage. CANDU reactors also have a long operational lifetime, and can be refueled without shutting them down.

The MOU with China also provides for future uranium mining collaborations between SNC-Lavalin and CNNC in China.

CANDU nuclear technology is also already established in China, where two 700-megawatt CANDU reactors are currently operating. In a statement, SNC-Lavalin said that China National Nuclear Corporation is also pursuing a contract for a “CANDU-type reactor” in Argentina. SNC-Lavalin would also participate in this deal, one which the former Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) had hoped to land itself.

AECL was sold by the federal government to SNC-Lavalin in 2011. It now owns the intellectual property for the CANDU and will participate in design and engineering work on the Romanian project. AECL is now known as Candu Energy.

“This is an exciting opportunity to build on CANDU technology’s international track record for the highest levels of safety, reliability and efficiency,” said Preston Swafford, Candu Energy President and CEO. “Today’s agreement deepens our strong ties with both the Romanian and Chinese nuclear industries, as CANDU reactors have operated in both countries for more than a decade.”

He added that the project will make a “meaningful contribution to Canada’s economy,” potentially billions of dollars, and support highly skilled jobs.

Candu Energy is also pursuing new build opportunities in the United Kingdom and China, among other markets.

Did you miss this?

Other Popular Stories

  • Bombardier to build more commuter trains for London transit
  • GE increasing its investment in fracking technology
  • Strong manufacturing rebound in February led by energy sector
  • Oil train disaster plays to the pro-pipeline position
  • GE expanding cold-weather jet engine facility in Winnipeg
  • Small business tax rate cut to 3.5 percent will only partially mitigate impact of minimum wage increases, both set for January 1 in Ontario
  • Bombardier CSeries finally flies the skies of Paris
  • Forestry industry pledges 13 per cent CO2 reduction to fight climate change
  • Volvo aims to put garbage collectors out of work with autonomous robot garbage trucks
  • Renewables will surpass natural gas, nuclear by 2016: IEA
  • Miners struggling with higher costs, lower prices
  • Oil Industry News: Oil Companies Shedding Assets
  • Manufacturing sales up in September but shadow of Trump looms over Canada
  • SAFFir is an autonomous robot firefighter being tested by the Navy for dangerous situations. Unlike other firefighting robots, SAFFir is both autonomous, and stands on two legs, with two hands to grasp fire hoses.
    Robots save lives: robot fire-fighters take on explosive situations. SAFFiR shows how they can be ultimately be autonomous.
  • Ontario increases incentives for EV buyers
  • Cars with “Nerves”? Self diagnostics and magnetostrictive material may deliver cars with feeling.
  • Canada one of only three countries where clean energy investment grew
  • Record Shipping Costs Creating Issues in the Automotive Industry
  • NAV CANADA shares award for enhanced oceanic navigation system
  • Honda expansion a win for Ontario's auto sector
Scroll to Top