Everyone's been touched by knowing someone who’s had cancer. Between enabling low-carbon, reliable, and safe power generation and increasing access to cancerfighting medical isotopes, knowing that the amazing work we're doing has a broader societal benefit makes our work much more tangible and meaningful.
Darryl Spector President, Promation
A Tier-1 nuclear nation is a nation that has successfully implemented, deployed, and maintained their domestic nuclear technologies, that has built a strong supply chain to support their nuclear industry, and that has a capable and innovative national nuclear lab that’s underpinning and supporting the industry.
Amy Gottschling
Vice-President of Science, Technology, & Commercial Oversight, AECL
We see countries strengthening their commitment to nuclear power, which is driving the increased demand for uranium. With over 71 per cent of uranium production currently coming from state-owned or quasi-controlled companies, there's been a push to diversify uranium supply chains to secure energy security and achieve energy independence.
Leigh Curyer
President & CEO, NexGen Energy
Women make a valuable contribution to nuclear, working in all aspects of the industry. From science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to business, strategic, and operational roles, the career prospects in the nuclear industry are endless, with opportunities to work in exciting and innovative areas.
Lisa McBride
President, WiN Canada and Country Leader, Small Modular Reactors, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy saves lives. Canada invented the CANDU nuclear reactor, which not only provides emission-free electricity, but also produces the medical isotopes we need to fight cancer and keep our medical equipment sterile. That's something I can get behind.
Dr. Chris Keefer, M.D.
President,
Canadians for Nuclear Energy & Emergency Physician
There’s no path to net zero without nuclear. But that path, no matter where it is, is going through a traditional territory. And we’re going to need to have Indigenous people involved in all areas of our sector.
Tracy Primeau Member, Board of Directors, OPG & WiN Canada, and Founder & Principal, Agile Bear Consulting
Organizations may have policy, but there are small nuances that policy cannot capture. Indigenous voices can articulate what is not captured in policy, providing context and meaning that aids in understanding, which will lead to a more meaningful outcome.
Shane Chegahno
Vice-President, Makwa Development Corporation
When we look at energy sources, it’s no longer enough to look at the carbon output of that energy source. We must start looking at the carbon emissions from mining, manufacturing, building, footprint, and installation of all energy sources.
Emily Whetung
Chief Emerita, Curve Lake First Nation
Ontario has one of the cleanest electricity systems in the world, with 90 per cent of our electricity generation creating zero emissions, and greenhouse gas levels that have declined by roughly 90 per cent since 2005 thanks to the backbone of our electricity grid, nuclear power.
Todd Smith, Minister of Energy, Government of Ontario
Canada has been at the forefront of isotope research, development, and technology for over 70 years. As demand for medical isotopes is expected to reach up to $33 billion USD in the next decade, Canada has an opportunity to maximize the potential of our supply chain on a global scale.
Melody Greaves Policy, Government, & Stakeholder Relations Specialist, Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council
Powering Tomorrow: Nuclear Workers Keep the Lights On
Ontario has its work cut out for it in pursuit of reliable energy and heroic climate goals. The nuclear workforce is here to help.
For years — even as Canada and the world set bold emissions targets in the face of the climate crisis — the future of Ontario’s nuclear energy generation program remained uncertain. Despite nuclear power being inarguably the most practical source of low-emission baseload electricity, there was reluctance to commit to the aggressive reinvestment in nuclear infrastructure that would enable a transition to responsible and sustainable growth. Recently, however, it’s become clear to all that the only viable road forward is through a strong nuclear sector, and Ontario is once again speaking in one voice, asking the nuclear workforce to help us walk that path.
“This means more jobs in Canada,” says Michelle Johnston, President of the Society of United Professionals, the trade union representing Ontario’s nuclear professionals. “And it’s not only new jobs for the nuclear workers that operate these plants — you've also got the whole Canadian supply chain. These are really high-quality, high-paying jobs that are unionized with good benefits. They’re multi-generational jobs embedded within the community.”
Expanding horizons for future generations
At facilities like the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station on the shore of Lake Huron, it’s not uncommon to see an engineer work their entire career at
the power plant, raising children who will go off to university and then return home to take positions at the same plant. Investment in nuclear infrastructure brings economic opportunity for future generations while simultaneously providing energy security and a responsible environmental legacy for the same.
In the clearest indication yet of Ontario’s nuclear renaissance, a plan was recently announced to explore long-term planning for expansion at the Bruce power plant. This announcement came hot on the heels of the Society of United Professionals’ successful renegotiation of their members’ collective agreement at that same generating station. “I know our members are geared up and looking forward to the expansion,” says Johnston. “They’ve rolled up their sleeves and are ready to get to work.”
Opportunities for new workers and upskilled workers alike
With so much work to do, the Society is enthusiastic about the prospects of welcoming many new members through the economic growth and job creation brought by projects of this scale. Johnston sees these new jobs as an essential component of what she calls a just transition.
“As we move away from fossil fuels, there are going to be fewer jobs in that sector, but I firmly believe there’s a tremendous opportunity for a just transition for those workers,” Johnston says. “If you're a welder in the fossil
fuel sector, you can be a welder in the nuclear sector. If you're an engineer in the fossil fuel sector, with some upskilling and retraining, you could become an engineer in the nuclear sector. We have a member who was pushing a broom at a coal plant when Ontario shut down coal back in 2014. He saw it as an opportunity. He upskilled. He retrained. Today, he’s leading nuclear projects at Ontario Power Generation.”
The Society is also engaged in building partnerships to help traditionally underrepresented segments of the population — women, Indigenous people, and other diverse and marginalized groups — so that they have the opportunity to enter the industry. Their partnership with Indspire to provide post-secondary scholarships to Indigenous students has been a huge success. “We have to open up the pathways and remove the barriers,” says Johnston. “We have to leverage every opportunity we have, because Ontario’s future generations depend on our success. Our planet depends on it.”
The gravity of this undertaking is not lost on Ontario’s nuclear engineers, operators, and other professionals. They take great pride in keeping Ontario safe, sustainable, and powered. They know that whenever we walk into a room and turn on the lights, whenever we charge an electric vehicle or employ an electric heater against the cold Canadian winter, we’re depending on them. They want us to know we can keep depending on them.
Michelle Johnston President, Society of United Professionals Society of
Ontario’s green energy future begins at thesociety.ca This article was sponsored by the Society of United Professionals
D.F. McCourt
PHOTO CREDIT: IESO
Responsible Stewardship of the Global Energy Future Begins in Saskatchewan
The winds are changing and a new sun is rising in the Canadian energy industry. Renewable generating capacity is joining the grid at a rapid pace, but the wind and the sun will not be enough to meet the aggressive decarbonization targets necessary in the face of the ongoing climate crisis. These technologies must be augmented by a reliable low-carbon source of baseload energy. In Canada, we’re fortunate to have an ideal solution to this conundrum buried right beneath our feet.
The reascendance of clean and reliable nuclear energy
There was a time when the word uranium could hardly be uttered without Canada being mentioned in the same breath. As recently as 2016, Canada produced more than a fifth of the global uranium supply. Today, we contribute less than half that. If Canada is to be a world leader in the fight against climate change, it’s past time for us to fall in love with nuclear energy again.
“As per the International Energy Agency,” says Leigh Curyer, President and CEO of NexGen Energy, “nuclear is the most reliable of all the low-carbon sources of energy. Without the contribution of nuclear energy, we’re just not going to meet the net-zero or decarbonization targets that governments around the world have set.”
Leigh Curyer President & CEO, NexGen Energy
The biggest discovery in the history of uranium
Fortunately, in Saskatchewan, the stage is set for a tremendous uranium renaissance.
NexGen’s Rook I Project, located in the Southwest Athabasca Basin, is home to mineral resources containing over a hundred million kilograms of uranium. The Project, 100 per cent supported by local Indigen-
ous communities, is currently in the final stages of permitting and, once operational, will stand to entirely transform the nuclear fuel landscape in Canada and worldwide. And its discovery is as extraordinary as its role in delivering the global energy transition.
“We went into an area where many were saying you can’t find economic uranium deposits,” says Curyer. “Not only did we find an economic uranium deposit, we have delivered new industry standards in the responsible development of resources. This is the world’s highest-grade project under development by size and, when in production, at full capacity it alone will account for approximately 23 per cent of the world’s uranium production based on 2022 world production. To put that in context, the entire nation of Saudi Arabia produces ~12 per cent of the world’s oil. There’s no doubt that Canada has the natural resources and the uranium deposits to become the world’s leading producer of nuclear fuel once again. But it’s going to rely
With the global climate crisis fully apparent, and an energy crisis hot on its heels, development of Canada’s nuclear fuel resources is essential to keeping society running while meeting net-zero targets.
D.F. McCourt
on more assets like Rook I coming into production.”
Still, despite the incredibly low carbon footprint of nuclear power, the will to develop Canadian uranium resources depends also on the environmental impact of the mine itself. Through innovative design and diligent planning, however, Rook I is being developed in a way that’s greener and more sustainable than anything seen before.
“This will be the largest uranium-producing project in Canadian history,” says Curyer. “But it’s also unique in that it will have a very small physical footprint, less than four square kilometers on the surface. The environmental profile is also extremely benign. That’s a function of not only the geological setting — Rook I is located in competent basement rock with clean metallurgy — but also the design parameters. For example, we’re going to be putting all the tailings generated from the Project back underground for the first time in Canadian history. For these reasons, this is going to be the most environmentally friendly mine in Canada, if not the world.”
Global impact, local buy-in
With projects like Rook I, questions of impact can’t be discussed only in terms of the big picture. It must include the local communities.
Under the IBA, the Rook I Project will respect our large, vibrant Métis community and our rights and interests over the land, while providing muchneeded resources and opportunities to Northern Region II. It will leave a substantial legacy that can continue after the mine has closed and the lands have been restored.
“We’ve developed the Project side-by-side with very transparent community engagement across all facets of development,” says Curyer. “Everyone who has visited the Project site has come away saying that it’s the most impressive development stage project they’ve ever seen in terms of our stewardship environmentally, technically, and socially. We have 100 per cent support from the community, which sets an entirely new standard that we believe will be the template going forward for responsible resource development in Canada and around the world.”
On June 15th, full Indigenous community support for NexGen’s Rook I Project was formalized with the signing of an Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) with the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan Northern Region II and the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan. This historic agreement comes on the heels of similar agreements with the three other Indigenous communities in the local Project area: Clearwater
On June 15, 2023, NexGen signed a historic and industry-leading Impact Benefit Agreement with the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan (MN-S) and MN-S Northern Region II.
and
“It’s our understanding that this will be, by far, the largest Métis impact and benefit agreement in Canadian history,” stated Glen McCallum, President of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, in a press release. “Under the IBA, the Rook I Project will respect our large, vibrant Métis community and our rights and interests over the land, while providing much-needed resources and opportunities to Northern Region II. It will leave a substantial legacy that can continue after the mine has closed and the lands have been restored.”
From local to global, the Rook I Project is a linchpin in the essential decarbonization endeavor. The energy sector currently accounts for a whopping 75 per cent of global emissions, and that number is
only set to rise with the ongoing electrification of heating and transportation. Nuclear energy is the one clear path forward and, in today’s geopolitical context, it has never been more important that nuclear fuel resources be developed here in Canada under dedicated responsible stewardship. As Curyer states in an open letter to the leaders of the G7, “Together, we can deliver energy security and achieve net-zero.”
River Dene Nation, Birch Narrows Dene Nation,
Buffalo River Dene Nation.
This article was sponsored by NexGen Energy Ltd
NexGen is nearing completion of its 2023 Site Program. Aerial views of the future production and exhaust shaft locations are shown, which are undergoing drilling to inform engineering design.
Who’s Going to Finance the New Nuclear Capacity Canada Needs?
As Canada gets ready to expand electricity-generating capacity, the question is how this investment will be financed. In the changing landscape of power infrastructure, the answer is: creatively with nuclear.
D.F. McCourt
Canada’s climate and energy goals are wholly dependent on the rapid development of new green baseload electricity generation infrastructure. We need emission-free capacity that’s always on, and that is nuclear.
Turning to nuclear for reliable baseload power
“In order to reach Canada’s targets of net-zero emissions by 2050, we're going to need to transition to high levels of electrification,” says Mimi Ginger Wilde, a senior engineer in Hatch’s Nuclear Business Unit.
“Other forms of green energy, like wind, solar, and storage, are going to play an important role,” adds Wilde. “But when we’re talking about baseload power, there’s nothing better than
nuclear for providing reliable green capacity to the grid.”
The question is: how do we build it?
And how do we pay for it?
“Large-scale nuclear is a significant capital investment that requires a lot of planning, and it has traditionally been built by public utilities with government backing,” says Megan Goodland, a Nuclear Specialist at Hatch .
New financing models invite everyone to the table
While innovative nuclear technology is making project financing more approachable, electricity price unpredictability and regulatory hurdles are complicating matters. Navigating this space requires responsible innovation in finance planning, which is something Hatch has never shied away from.
“Nuclear power is capital cost-intensive, but has a lower operating cost as compared to other forms of generation,” says Wilde. “Without the promise of electricity prices that will allow you to pay that back for your operation, it’s very difficult to invest in nuclear. So, we’re introducing financing methods in order to guarantee that payback.”
One approach is through power purchasing agreements and energy offtake agreements. There are also sovereign loan guarantees, which bring government back into the picture as guarantors against the private risk of developing essential power infrastructure. Finally, the risk can be shared between many investors, whether through small business consortiums, innovative nuclear green bonds, or even crowdfunding.
The rewards of nuclear investment are clear
Though the price of electricity may be unstable in the short term, demand is only going up. These investments also bring multiplicative economic benefits. Most importantly, though, these projects are undeniably essential to meeting our climate and energy goals. Investing in Canada’s nuclear future is investing in Canada’s future. Period.
Canada’s Plan is Ready for the Future
As Canada increasingly relies on nuclear to meet our net-zero goals, ensuring the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel is critical.
Jennifer Rankin
Hardly a day goes by without a story about advances in Canada’s nuclear energy sector.
Fueled in part by a demand for clean energy sources that will help Canada reach its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, Canada’s nuclear resurgence is supported by governments across the country who are investing in new technologies and considering what more can be done to meet the growing electricity demand.
Protecting people and the environment
Established more than 20 years ago, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-forprofit organization that is responsible for managing Canada’s used nuclear fuel and making sure it’s safely contained and isolated in a way that
protects people and the environment for generations to come.
“With new nuclear projects moving forward, the public wants to know how the waste will be managed. The good news is that when it comes to used nuclear fuel, Canada doesn’t have a nuclear waste problem, it has a nuclear waste solution,” says Laurie Swami, President and CEO of the NWMO.
Currently, Canada’s used nuclear fuel is safely managed in facilities licensed for interim storage. This approach is safe, but it’s not a permanent solution because it requires ongoing maintenance and management.
Discover more on the energy transformation challenge and nuclear opportunities at hatch.com
This article was sponsored by Hatch
deep geological repository.
Leading with experience
A deep geological repository uses a combination of engineered and natural barriers to safely contain and isolate used nuclear fuel. This approach is the culmination of decades of research, development, and demonstration of technologies and techniques.
Canada doesn’t have a nuclear waste problem, it has a nuclear waste solution.
“More than 20 years of experience have brought us to the point where we are today, as we prepare to select a site for the deep geological repository in 2024,” says Swami.
To learn more about the NWMO and Canada’s plan, visit nwmo.ca
That’s why the NWMO is moving forward with Canada’s plan, also known as Adaptive Phased Management (APM), which will safely contain and isolate used nuclear fuel inside a
Canada’s plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nations, and others in the area are working together to implement it.
Mimi Ginger Wilde Senior Engineer, Nuclear Business Unit, Hatch
This article was sponsored by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization
Laurie Swami, President & CEO, NWMO
Megan Goodland Nuclear Specialist, Hatch
How UNB Is Leading the Way in Nuclear Energy Research and Education
The University of New Brunswick and its Centre for Nuclear Energy Research are delivering world-class education and R&D in nuclear energy.
Over the past decade, the federal and provincial governments have come to see nuclear power, and small modular reactors (SMRs) in particular, as an important part of the solution to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The Centre for Nuclear Energy Research (CNER) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) has emerged as a leader in research and training thanks to a concerted effort to build its capacity that began nearly a decade ago.
In 2014, CNER welcomed a new director, Dr. William Cook, Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering. With that transition, the research and development institute began to blossom, growing from a staff of just one to over 25 associates, support staff, and students.
“Throughout the past 30-plus years, UNB has been actively engaged in the nuclear power industry through our research labs and ties with the nuclear industry here in Canada and abroad,” Cook says. And that level of engagement is now higher than ever.
Throughout the past 30-plus years, UNB has been actively engaged in the nuclear power industry through our research labs and ties with the nuclear industry here in Canada and abroad.
Full steam ahead with nuclear Thanks to the launch of the Pan-Canadian Framework for Small Modular Reactors in 2018 and the Government of New Brunswick investing $10 million into SMRs, UNB relaunched its option program in nuclear.
“Recent interest in SMRs was really the motivating factor to reestablish the formal Nuclear Power Option Program and grow our student base, and student interest was astounding,” says Cook.
Today, nuclear-related education and
research initiatives at UNB are thriving. The university offers eight courses in the Nuclear Option with plans to double this number by the end of 2024.
“Traditionally, UNB has offered coursework in areas of introduction to nuclear and corrosion,” says Bradley McPherson, the CNER’s Director of Innovation. “With the advancement of SMRs and a shift globally toward decarbonization, new courses like Advanced Nuclear Systems, Nuclear Safety and Reliability, and Nuclear Chemical Processes are paramount to educating tomorrow’s workforce and decision- and policymakers.”
With the advancement of SMRs and a shift globally toward decarbonization, new courses like Advanced Nuclear Systems, Nuclear Safety and Reliability, and Nuclear Chemical Processes are paramount to educating tomorrow’s workforce and decision- and policymakers.
Exciting new research initiatives
“We’ve recently begun to grow our nuclear expertise again with the hiring of Dr. Olga Palazhchenko, Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering and also a part of the CNER,” says Cook.
Dr. Palazhchenko’s research in nuclear waste storage and computational modelling of nuclear systems has helped to expand the CNER’s capacity. “My work is in the areas of nuclear engineering and materials chemistry, with a focus on simulation development to model radioactivity transport in nuclear power plant systems,” she explains. “In more recent years, my work has expanded from large-scale, watercooled reactors to R&D activities supporting advanced technologies such as SMRs. My latest and most ambitious project investigates the chemistry and materials considerations for long term storage of spent nuclear fuel in a potential deep geological repository.”
My latest and most ambitious project investigates the chemistry and materials considerations for long term storage of spent nuclear fuel in a potential deep geological repository.
Expanding coursework
In growing its nuclear-related course content and attracting more students, UNB has created a virtuous cycle — students in the Nuclear Power Option Program often go on to post-graduate work at the CNER, which helps attract research and in turn helps attract highly qualified researchers and professors to the university, which then strengthens the Option Program when they teach. It’s a win-win-win.
“While New Brunswick has plans to expand from a nuclear operator to a nuclear technology supplier, the province is currently developing two different types of SMR,” says Dr. Joshua Leon, Dean of Engineering at UNB. “The burgeoning nuclear industry requires qualified nuclear engineers to support it in its growth. To respond to this need, we’ve been developing a series of new courses that students can enroll in, currently recognized as a program option.”
The burgeoning nuclear industry requires qualified nuclear engineers to support it in its growth. To respond to this need, we’ve been developing a series of new courses that students can enroll in, currently recognized as a program option.
and
Tania Amardeil
Dr. William Cook Professor, Chair of Chemical Engineering, Director of the CNER, UNB
Bradley McPherson Director of Innovation, CNER, UNB
Dr. Olga Palazhchenko Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, CNER, UNB
Dr. Joshua Leon Dean of Engineering, UNB
Learn more about UNB
its Nuclear Power Option Program, as well as other upcoming courses and R&D work, at unb.ca
Grants and Research Galore: How Waterloo Is Innovating in Nuclear
The University of Waterloo is becoming a shining star in the nuclear space, with award-winning research initiatives underway.
The University of Waterloo, which is currently number one in Canada for experiential learning and employerstudent connections, continually spurs innovation to solve problems on a global scale. One of the major ways it’s doing so is through its growing presence and innovation in the nuclear sector.
“Waterloo has been a constant presence in the nuclear sector for close to two decades, but our growing research programs related to small modular reactors (SMRs) represent a significant new chapter in research at the university,” says Dr. Charmaine Dean, Waterloo’s Vice-President of Research and International.
The Ontario government has
ramped up investment in nuclear energy production due to the intense energy needs of our communities, and the university has kept pace with complementary research. “We’re actively working with industry and government partners to create a more sustainable future,” says Dean.
“Working with industry is our hallmark and we pride ourselves on creating real-world solutions,” adds Dr. Claudio Cañizares, a professor and Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy.
Successful grants
Waterloo recently received four Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada grants, which award over $1.3 million in federal funding to support the university’s SMR research.
McMaster University is Saving Lives with Medical Isotopes
Federal and provincial investments boost McMaster’s medical isotope research and production to benefit more Canadians.
Tania Amardeil
Medical isotopes are advancing health care — and McMaster University is paving the way for the next-generation of medical isotope research and innovation.
Used to diagnose and treat over 1.5 million Canadians every year for a range of health conditions, medical isotopes hold great promise for patients at home and abroad.
“Medical isotopes are undergoing tremendous growth as researchers discover new ways of harnessing their potential to image, track, and treat
cancer and other diseases,” says Dave Tucker, Chief Nuclear Officer and Associate Vice-President, Nuclear at McMaster.
McMaster’s global leadership
McMaster has been a global leader in nuclear medicine for some 65 years. The McMaster Nuclear Reactor — Canada’s largest research reactor — provides neutrons for medical isotope production and scientific research and anchors the university’s suite of world-class nuclear facilities.
It’s that infrastructure combined with the university’s leading nuclear
The school’s research expertise is already shining in the nuclear space.
“Our growing sector presence was recognized in 2021 when Mahesh Pandey, our University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering Industrial Research Chair, was honoured with the Harold A. Smith Outstanding Contribution Award at an event staged by the Canadian Nuclear Society and the Canadian Nuclear Association,” says Cañizares.
Many of the university’s award-winning projects focus on reliability analysis and probabilistic methodologies for nuclear reactor component behaviour, leading to significant strides in equipment safety.
The future of nuclear in Canada is bright, and Waterloo is helping lead the way to its safe and sustainable use.
Learn more at uwaterloo.ca
experts that have positioned McMaster as a leader in the country’s efforts to meet its medical isotope needs, says Tucker.
The powerful impact of investment McMaster recently received $6.8 million from the federal government as part of a $35 million national initiative to create a Canadian Medical Isotope Ecosystem (CMIE). And the Ontario government invested an additional $6.8 million in the McMaster Nuclear Reactor to increase its operational capacity and isotope production.
These investments, says Karin Stephenson, Director of Nuclear Research and Education at McMaster, are gamechanging for the university’s isotope research and production enterprise and potentially life-saving for the patients who stand to gain from early diagnoses and treatments.
“This collective support means our capacity to produce medical isotopes will increase by 300 per cent,” says Stephenson. “Not only does it put us at the forefront of innovation in this field, but it ensures our increased capacity is translated to better health outcomes for thousands of patients.”
“Simply put,” Tucker says, “these investments will save lives.”
Dr. Karin Stephenson Director of Nuclear Research & Education, McMaster
This article was sponsored by McMaster University
Dave Tucker Chief Nuclear Officer & Associate Vice-President, Nuclear, McMaster
Dr. Claudio Cañizares Professor & Executive Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy
This article was sponsored by the University of Waterloo
Violet Rosendale
Dr. Charmaine Dean Vice-President, Research and International, University of Waterloo
Nuclear Power Is Green, but What about the Uranium Mines? Yes, Them Too.
While nuclear technology is fast-evolving, nuclear plants remain dependent on fuel like uranium — but its mining isn’t as old-fashioned as you’d think.
As the nuclear renaissance blossoms in Canada and we begin planning for a future increasingly reliant on uranium for green and sustainable baseload power, great strides are being taken to modernize — and lower the environmental footprint of — the mining projects that make that power possible.
At the Wheeler River property in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin, Denison Mines is now bringing the Canadian legacy of innovation to the mines themselves, beginning with its Phoenix project.
Mining without the mine: from theory to reality
"Now, with in-situ recovery (ISR) technology, we believe we can achieve a superior standard of sustainability — with a very small surface footprint and no open pits or underground mine workings,” says Denison President and CEO David Cates. The technology behind ISR mining involves drilling a series of boreholes into the uranium deposit located hundreds of metres below the surface, and then saturating the sandstone host rock with an engin-
eered mining solution that dissolves the uranium as it flows from well to well. The solution is injected down one borehole and — once it’s rich with uranium — pumped back up another, where the uranium is then extracted from it in a processing facility on the surface. The flow of the mining solution is controlled by pumps and valves on surface and a perimeter “freeze wall” is used to provide tertiary environmental protection using a proven technique in the mining industry that is normally designed to keep water out of underground mines.
Now, with in-situ recovery (ISR) technology, we believe we can achieve a superior standard of sustainability — with a very small surface footprint and no open pits or underground mine workings.
“After several years of successful field and laboratory tests, we have now proven that the ISR mining method can work in the Athabasca Basin,” says Cates.
A Canadian first Denison recently completed a pilot test that marked the first time the ISR mining method has been deployed for uranium mining in Canada. And, when the full Phoenix operation is built out — with a projected completion date of 2027 — it will be the country’s first uranium mine based on this low-impact mining method.
Denison is also leading the Canadian marketplace with the adoption
of a corporate Indigenous Peoples Policy, which guides Denison’s corporate decisions with an aim to participate in economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples with ties to the areas in which Denison operates.
“Our Indigenous Peoples Policy has led Denison to enter into a series of foundational agreements with various Indigenous groups that include mutually agreed frameworks for information sharing and consultation, employment, business opportunities, and benefits sharing, even before we have an operating mine,” says Cates.
Historically, when we’ve said that nuclear power is the most environmentally sound path to green baseload capacity, someone has inevitably asked: “Even the uranium mines?”
Now, more than ever before, we can confidently answer: “Yes.”
Discover the future of uranium mining at redefiningmining.ca and denisonmines.com
This article was sponsored by Denison Mines
Frank Campagna
David Cates President & CEO, Denison Mines
How AECL Is Driving Nuclear Opportunity for Canada
Atomic Energy of Canada
Limited continues to drive nuclear innovation, over 70 years after its formation.
At the dawn of the atomic age, the Canadian government created a new crown corporation, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), with a mandate to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
“AECL was created by an Act of Parliament in 1952,” says Amy Gottschling, Vice-President of Science, Technology, and Commercial Oversight at AECL. “Its mandate was to define, direct, and build the nuclear industry for Canada. It was a driver and a technology push, building on that domestic security framework that was so needed at the time.”
An evolving mission
Today, AECL still plays a vital leadership role in the nuclear sector, and
owns Canada’s largest nuclear science and technology laboratory. Its role has evolved, though. AECL continues to own the Intellectual Property of the CANDU reactors that it developed and deployed in Canada and abroad over decades.
“We moved to a governmentowned, contractor-operated model, which was really to drive efficiency and value for Canada,” says Gottschling.
One of AECL's core missions today is to protect the environment and care for the land by fulfilling the Government of Canada’s obligations for AECL’s legacy radioactive waste and decommissioned sites.
Have You Heard of Deep River, Ont.? Learn the Once-Secret Town's Story
IIf you saw Oppenheimer, you remember the fascinating story of Los Alamos, New Mexico. In 1943, Los Alamos was used for the top-secret Manhattan Project. But did you know that Canada has our very own Los Alamos? Like Los Alamos, the Town of Deep River, Ont. was built in secret with the goal of achieving peaceful nuclear power and medicine initiatives, and each community boasts the facilities and activities of a much larger city.
Canada's first nuclear host community
Construction of Deep River began in 1945. The researchers living there were tasked with developing a dif-
ferent kind of nuclear reactor — one which was designed with a priority on peaceful research.
Both the lab and town were built in relative secrecy by the precursor organization to AECL, with a fence surrounding the community and a gatehouse. Deep River housed scientists, engineers, and technicians working at the lab, along with their families.
A small town with big amenities
“Deep River was designed to attract scientists from all around the world to work at the lab,” says Sue D'Eon, Mayor of Deep River. “As a result, we’re unique in that we have a disproportionately large number of recreational facilities, amenities, clubs, and things to do.”
Harnessing the power of nuclear innovation
“If our role used to be to define and direct the nuclear industry writ large, we now feel our role is more to enable, nurture, facilitate, advise, guide, and support Canada’s nuclear sector by using the expertise we have from our legacy of nuclear in any way we can,” says Gottschling.
AECL’s current strategic plan includes three core pillars: investing in its capabilities and environmental duties, driving the future of nuclear in Canada, and facilitating nuclear innovation to the benefit of the public good.
Deep River, while home to around 4,000 people, has an arena, library, ski hill, golf club, curling club, tennis club, squash club, yacht club, symphony orchestra, theatre groups, and more. The town has its own police force, highly acclaimed schools, and a top-rated hospital. Deep River is also a haven for those who enjoy outdoor recreation. “Deep River caters to all ages,” says D'Eon.
One of the best places to live
“Today, Deep River is a thriving multi-cultural community with a deep community spirit and a proudly diverse population,” says D’Eon. The town’s origin as a nuclear town has created a unique municipal legacy and a powerful sense of self-sufficiency in arts, culture, and sports.
Deep River remains an appealing location for scientists and families to settle. Recently, the town was recognized in several publications as one of the best places to live in Canada based on safety, affordability, and access to recreational facilities and parks.
learn more about how AECL is driving nuclear opportunity for
Tania Amardeil
PHOTO CREDIT: CNL
Deep River, Ont., is Canada’s Los Alamos — home of the topsecret Manhattan Project. Today, it’s a growing hub for nuclear innovation in clean energy and medicine.
