Bruce Power is to study the potential of bringing nuclear energy to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan as part of a wider look at clean energy technologies.

Bruce Power unveiled theŽSaskatchewan 2020Ž initiative on 17 June 2008 to give provincial leaders detailed information and options as they consider electricity supply needs for the future.

The provincial Minister of Enterprise and Innovation Lyle Stewart said: "Saskatchewan needs clean, affordable and reliable power to meet the future needs of a growing province. We would like to welcome Bruce Power to our province and look forward to the results of the Saskatchewan 2020 feasibility study, which we hope will lead to the creation of a nuclear option for our province."

The study will consider the economic impacts, public attitudes and level of support for adding nuclear energy to the province�s current electricity supply mix and consider potential locations for nuclear power plant sites and provincial transmission requirements.

Bruce Power intends to start its analysis this summer and issue a report by the end of the year and plans to cooperate with utility SaskPower to evaluate electricity demand projections for the province and examine what transmission upgrades or enhancements would be required to accommodate new nuclear units.

Bruce Power president and chief executive officer Duncan Hawthorne said nuclear energy, when properly integrated with technologies such as hydrogen, would be a worthy addition to Saskatchewan�s energy mix.

Earlier this year, Bruce Power Alberta filed an application with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for approval to prepare a site that could generate 4,000 megawatts of electricity from two to four reactors near Peace River in CanadaŽs Alberta province.

- by John Shepherd

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

Bruce Power Acquires Energy Alberta, Files Application For Potential Units (World Nuclear Review No. 11, 14 March 2008)

Bruce Power Releases Environmental Assessment For Ontario Units (News in Brief No. 63, 2 June 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

The Cameco Corporation says it continues to make progress in remediation work at the Cigar Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

Work has been under way since October 2006 when a rockfall led to flooding. Construction of the the mine was about 60 per cent complete at that time.

Starting this week, Cameco expects to pump water out of the mine over several months. "This will allow us to equip the mine shaft with a ladderway, ventilation ducting, power and communication cables, water pipes and other necessary equipment as the water level goes down," the company said on 27 June 2008.

Cameco continues to anticipate production start-up in 2011 at the earliest.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the Saskatchewan Ministries of Environment and Advanced Education, Employment and Labour have previously approved plans to pump water out of the mine and all other remediation activities leading up to, but not including, the restart of construction underground.

The remainder of the remediation activities, including completion of the second shaft and other activities, are under regulatory review. A CNSC public hearing is scheduled for 18 September 2008.

Cigar Lake, which was originally scheduled to begin operations in 2007 and supply about one tenth of global consumption, is a joint venture owned by Cameco (50 per cent), Areva Resources Canada (37 per cent), Idemitsu Canada Resources (8 per cent) and Tepco Resources (5 per cent).


>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

Cigar Lake Uranium Mine Faces New Delay (News in Brief No. 34, 31 October 2007)

Cameco Announces Progress At Cigar Lake Mine (News in Brief No. 18, 20 February 2008)

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Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org