REGINA: Saskatchewan’s energy minister says the Ontario government’s decision to delay plans for new nuclear reactors won’t derail his province’s atomic power review.
Ontario’s energy minister said an offer from Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. to build a plant in the province would cost billions more than the government is willing to pay.

George Smitherman said his province’s decision shouldn’t be seen as a shift away from nuclear power, but he stresses Ontario isn’t going to build new plants “at any cost.”
Saskatchewan Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd said that raises questions as to the viability of building nuclear facilities anywhere.

Boyd said cost is always an issue, but adds that if Saskatchewan pursues nuclear power it would look for a partnership that would not use taxpayer money.

He also noted the Saskatchewan government still needs to hear the outcome of public consultations before making a decision on nuclear energy.

Federal aid could seal the deal
Ontario announced it was delaying plans to build two new nuclear reactors, saying Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.’s bid would cost billions more than the province is willing to pay as it hinted federal aid could help seal the deal.

AECL was the only one of three candidates to build the Darlington nuclear station reactors to properly address requirements around assuming responsibility for cost overruns, but that bid was still too expensive, said Smitherman.

Ottawa, which earlier this year announced plans to put AECL’s nuclear reactor business up for sale, may want to step in to allow AECL to make a more competitive bid, he added.

Once the government clarifies the future ownership of AECL, it must “sharpen their pencils substantially so that the people of the province of Ontario can renew their nuclear fleet with two new units from that company,” Smitherman said.
© 2009 The Canadian Press

daily news

jobs