Large reactors entering the conversation as Sask. moves closer to nuclear: Cameco CEO

Tim Gitzel, the CEO of Cameco, is bullish about Saskatchewan, uranium, and nuclear power across Canada and around the world.

Speaking on the Evan Bray Show on Friday, Gitzel said there aren’t many countries that aren’t considering nuclear power, and it’s exciting because people all over the world are learning about Saskatchewan and its uranium resources.

Read more:

• Work on small modular reactors leads to the creation of SaskNuclear
• SaskPower chooses SMR model for potential deployment
• Elbow, Estevan areas possible sites for small modular reactors: SaskPower

Jeremy Harrison, the minister responsible for SaskPower, recently confirmed that nuclear power is a done decision for the province, and the question now remaining is which technology will be used.

The province has been considering small modular reactors for years, but Gitzel said they’ve been talking about large reactors recently as well – the Westinghouse Electric Company’s AP1000 reactors, to be specific.

Listen to the full interview with Gitzel:

Gitzel said Cameco has been right in the middle of the province’s talk about nuclear energy.

“We’ve been working with the premier and (SaskPower CEO) Rupen Pandya and SaskPower to go through the process with respect to new nuclear here in Saskatchewan,” Gitzel explained.

“We will be standing shoulder to shoulder with the province as they go through that work.”

As the nuclear program in Saskatchewan progresses, Gitzel said there will be a lot side benefits for suppliers and construction firms. Depending on how quickly the build-out happens, he said it could have other benefits in the form of fuel facilities that process and enrich uranium.

“Everywhere that we’re talking about building (a) new build, they’re looking for the same thing,” Gitzel said. “They obviously want the supply chain there, and they’d love to have as much fuel as they could.”

The federal budget

Gitzel said what he saw in the federal budget for Canada’s nuclear and mining industries was pretty positive. He pointed to investment tax credits for new nuclear power, saying the industry has been waiting that announcement, which will make a big difference for companies like SaskPower.

He said the budget also included more support for nuclear exports and more investment in the major projects office that’s being set up in Alberta.

Saskatchewan isn’t expected to make a final decision about small, modular reactors and their part in nuclear generation until 2029.