Saskatchewan commits to nuclear power generation

BY BRIAN ZINCHUK
www.pipelineonline.ca

On Oct. 20, Crown Investments Corp. Minister Jeremy Harrison released the Saskatchewan First Energy Strategy and Supply Plan. It’s key points are Saskatchewan is commiting to build nuclear power generation, and it will use coal as a bridge to get there. The southern and northern grids will be connected as part of an effort to beef up transmission capability. And First Nations participation is to be a key component. The event took place on the opening of the inaugural Canadian Nuclear Association West conference, and was held at the head office of Cameco Corp.

It’s an in-depth plan to ensure we keep the lights on for the next 24 years.

In his speech and in the document, Harrison laid out how Saskatchewan will continue to burn coal for power as it goes towards a nuclear power generation future. And in his speech he made clear in no uncertain terms we are going to be producing nuclear power. Up until this point there’s been strong suggestions that this province would be going nuclear, but his statements, and that of Premier Moe the following day, have been the most unequivocal to date.

In addition to keeping coal until nuclear is ready, the plan focuses on improving transmission within Saskatchewan, including finally connecting the northern grid to the southern grid, dramatically improving power reliability for the north.

Extending coal-fired power also re-opens the possibility of additional carbon capture, with associated enhanced oil recovery, allowing for the extension of the life and productivity of southeast Saskatchewan’s oilfields.

Joining Harrison in the announcement was Sheldon Wuttunee, president and CEO of the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence Inc. Harrison and Wuttunee stressed the importance of working together with Indigenous peoples in carrying out this plan.

The announcement took place in Cameco’s Saskatoon headquarters as the starting portion of the inaugural Canadian Nuclear Association West conference, of which Cameco was the lead sponsor. Their CEO, Tim Gitzel, also joined Harrison in the announcement. Cameco is now 49 per cent owner of nuclear reactor builder Westinghouse, and Westinghouse now offers 1200 megawatt reactors called the AP1000.

This plan, if followed, will dramatically reshape Saskatchewan. Nuclear may not be cheap or easy, but it is also transformative in many ways. And as many participants and executives during the conference noted these power stations could last up to 100 years, this really is a case of planting trees so one’s grandchildren can play in the shade.

That plan, in its entirety, is reproduced here on Pipeline Online.

That’s just a part of the in-depth coverage of the conference’s events provided by Pipeline Online. Check out, for instance, the opening question Pipeline Online posed during the scrum portion, and then look at the question asked by other media at 44:51, when another reporter asked, “Can you clarify what you mean of nuclear power sources? Does that mean a nuclear power plant in Saskatchewan?”

“Yes, that’s what we’re talking about here,” Harrison responded.