Canadian Government agrees to work with United Kingdom on nuclear power
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Memorandum of Understanding designed to help position Canada's nuclear industry for growth abroad
OTTAWA—Canada has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom on nuclear energy cooperation. This government says the MOU will help position Canada’s nuclear industry to capture opportunities in the growing U.K. nuclear energy market.
The U.K. Nuclear Industrial Strategy calls for the construction of at least 12 new nuclear power plants to produce 16 gigawatts-electric by 2030 to replace its existing fleet and to help meet projected growth in demand. The MOU will provide benefits to a wide array of stakeholders in the nuclear energy industry in both Canada and the U.K., including small and medium-sized enterprises, by facilitating stronger industry-to-industry connections and encouraging collaborative work between laboratories and university research networks.
“We are creating opportunities for job creation and economic growth in Canada’s nuclear sector by opening new avenues for collaboration with the United Kingdom,” Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources, said. “The new cooperation announced today enhances our relationships and gives Canada’s nuclear industry improved access to growing opportunities in the U.K.’s nuclear energy market.”
The government said the MOU follows through on the commitment for increased cooperation in the field of nuclear energy that was highlighted in the updated 2014 Prime Ministerial Canada–U.K. Joint Declaration. The MOU was signed in London today by Canada’s High Commissioner to the U.K. and the Director of the Office for Nuclear Development in the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change.
The MOU will reinforce work already underway on feasibility studies related to the disposal of U.K. plutonium, and it will provide a framework to assess the development of power generation based on alternative nuclear fuels.
One of the industry stakeholders, CANDU Energy, a part of SNC-Lavalin, applauded the memorandum.
“Candu welcomes this constructive step forward and will work diligently with UK stakeholders and the UK nuclear supply chain to present a safe, reliable and affordable solution to reuse the country’s legacy stockpiles,” Preston Swafford, president and CEO of Candu Energy, said.
