SNC-Lavalin's vision for the future of advanced fuel cycles includes playing a key role in climate change mitigation through closing the nuclear fuel cycle using CANDU technology. Specifically, SNC-Lavalin aims to commercially implement the Advanced Fuel CANDU Reactor and CANMOX reactor internationally to optimize uranium and plutonium resource utilization. Additionally, SNC-Lavalin seeks to strengthen strategic partnerships to advance CANDU technology and help power the world through maximizing energy resources.
Canada has positioned itself to play a leading role in the climate change discussion not only with policy but with real investment.
Just last year the Government of Ontario announced the investment of over $25B dollars into the nuclear sector to life extend 10 CANDU units at the Darlington and Bruce site to operate for another 30 years
This is one of the single biggest investment in low carbon technology in North America and one that will benefit both the economy and environment in Canada
We will be undertaking a major piece of these projects. We are moving into the execution phase with our JV partner AECON at Darlington and are in discussions with Bruce Power about their life extension plan
We are working with the Chinese nuclear industry to develop CANDU projects around the world.
Our partnerships with CNNC in Argentina for the IVCN new build project and CGN in Romania to complete C3 & C4, serve as a model for joint development of projects in overseas markets, leveraging the experience, resources and capabilities in each others’ organizations
We see this as a model for working together in new markets.
In terms of our relationship with CNNC and our AFCR, we have made significant strides and signed a number of agreements to advance our cooperation
AFCR joint development began in 2010 and by 2014 an endorsement of the technology and recommendation by a Chinese expert that the time be identified for deployment in China were made.
At the same time President QIAN and Preston Swafford signed a framework Joint Venture agreement in the Great Hall of People and in the presence of the then Canadian Prime Minister and Chinese Premier.
Currently, the companies are working on finalizing the terms and conditions of the JV agreement for deployment in China and internationally.
More on the AFCR’s fuel flexibility to follow.
The UK Government has made a significant commitment to a Nuclear New Build program with several projects in advanced stages
Candu Energy has been working under contract with the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to develop a technical solution to disposition the UK’s 140T of civilian plutonium. This is a policy priority of the UK Government that views the stockpile as a proliferation and financial liability. In 2014, the NDA confirmed their preferred option to utilize the plutonium in power reactors and identified the EC6 CANMOX option as one of three credible alternatives
Procurement decision on route to reuse plutonium is deferred to post 2020 by the UK government
The project is for a 4 unit EC6 CANMOX facility with associated fuel fabrication facility. A significant portion of the work would be carried out by the Canadian nuclear supply chain.
More on the CANMOX fuel flexible solution to follow.
For the last few years, SNC-Lavalin has been developing strategies for business growth in global non-CANDU markets.
We are actively pursuing D&WM opportunities and have recently won a contract for the decommissioning of the University of Alberta SLOWPOKE research reactor.
In addition, we are pursuing engineering services work, project work and selling products (such as PARs and pump seals) in the US and Europe LWR markets; as well as supporting SMR vendors in the design and licensing of their technologies.
SNC-Lavalin is now also playing a key role in the management of the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories on a GoCo (Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated) basis as part of the Canadian National Energy Alliance (CNEA) consortium with CH2MHill and Energy Solutions. Closer collaboration and (advancef fuel) technology development is envisioned through this configuration.
As a result of business expansion, SNC-Lavalin is significantly investing in office facilities by completely remodeling the SP1 building at Sheridan Park, which we expect to move into by the end of this year.
As many of you may already know, the flexibility to utilize advanced fuels is a key differentiator of CANDU technology, which is possible due to:
Adaptable core through on-power refuelling
Efficient fuel utilization
Simple and small fuel bundle
Minimal changes in reactor design to use different fuels
SNC-Lavalin and in particular, its predecessor AECL, has a long R&D history for fuel flexible CANDU applications including:
DUPIC
Thorium applications; and
MOX and Pu application
One of our leading commercial fuel flexible applications is the implementation of NUE fuel in CANDU reactors
Four parties jointly developing NUE: TQNPC, CNNFC, NPIC and SNC-Lavalin since 2008 for implementation of NUE in the Qinshan CANDU reactors in China
NUE is a mixture of recycled and depleted uranium
NUE forms a synergistic relationship with existing LWR fleet and provides several benefits including:
Increased uranium utilization rate
Re-introduction of waste products into the energy stream
Spent fuel reduction
Economic advantage over NU
Independence from NU market
NUE Project Status:
Successful NUE fuel irradiation in Qinshan reactors in 2011
CNNFC is carrying out the production of NUE fuel
NUE full-core licensing was completed in December 2015
NUE full-core implementation expected to start in the near future
The AFCR design is built on the success of the NUE test irradiation in the Qinshan Reactors
It is being jointly developed by SNC-Lavalin and CNNC as a gen III reactor meeting post-Fukushima requirements
The AFCR is capable of utilizing both recycled uranium and thorium, which provides significants advantages including increased uranium utilization rate, re-introduction of waste products into the energy stream, spent fuel reduction, independence from NU market, diversification of fuel, and resource sustainability.
The AFCR will be implemented in China, where it will be able to utilize existing manufacturing and construction capabilities
AFCR Project Status:
Successful expert panel review in 2009
Chinese expert panel review in 2014
Framework JV agreement signed in 2014
Interim development program signed in 2015
Currently working on terms and conditions for the JV agreement
The CANMOX EC6 Reactor is yet another fuel flexible application of CANDU technology
Similar to the AFCR, it is a Gen III reactor which meets post Fukushima requirements
The CANMOX solution is being jointly developed by SNC-Lavalin, leading the reactor design and GE-Hitachi Canada, leading the CANMOX fuel plant design
SNC-Lavalin has completed its work on assessing the commercial feasibility of its proposal and is further working cooperatively with NDA to examine the deliverability of this safe, proven, licensable and competitive solution
This advanced fuel reactor would help the UK achieve its non-proliferation objectives
CANMOX Status Update:
SNC-Lavalin submission of licensing prospectus to NDA in 2014
Procurement decision deferred to post 2020 by the UK fovernment
SNC-Lavalin is finalizing a 4 year framework contract to support procurement decision focusing on the CANMOX fuel design