An artist's rendering of a BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR). Saskatchewan is considering using SMRs for power generation in future. (Submitted photo)

By CKOM Staff

Energy resources

Nuclear option the right one for Saskatchewan, new SaskPower executive says

Jul 20, 2024 | 12:00 PM

SaskPower newest executive is bullish about the prospects for nuclear power in the province.

“I think nuclear is one of the best options when achieving an emissions-free grid,” said Leonard Clewett, who was named in June as the utility’s new executive vice-president of nuclear development.

Clewett had been executive vice-president and chief nuclear officer at Bruce Power in Ontario before coming to Saskatchewan, and has a wealth of experience in the nuclear industry including maintenance and engineering.

He comes to SaskPower as it is ramping up nuclear power generation plans. Last fall, SaskPower created a dedicated nuclear development division. According to a news release it will work on development of small modular reactors (SMRs)and evaluate the potential role of nuclear power.

In his new role as Executive Vice-President of Nuclear Development, Leonard Clewett is enthusiastic about SaskPower’s plans for nuclear power generation in the province. (Supplied/SaskPower)

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Clewett appeared this week on CKOM’s Evan Bray Show and spoke of some of the advantages of nuclear power, particularly when it came to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He noted that SaskPower was already looking to add 3,000 megawatts in wind and solar power generation by 2035.

“But you certainly need base load generation, and I think Canada and many places around the world are looking at nuclear to fill that need,” Clewett said.

SaskPower is also looking for sites for a small modular reactor (SMR). Recently it was announced that Estevan had been chosen as the location, with two potential sites either at Rafferty or Boundary Dam. Clewett said SaskPower is doing further investigation, with a final site selection likely in 2025.

Clewett said there were a number of factors that counted in Estevan’s favour as an SMR site. He pointed to the access to transmission as one of the variables.

“The workforce down there, the talented workforce that’s been dedicated many years to SaskPower, was another factor,” he said.

Clewett said the utility would look to transition that workforce over to nuclear if they make the decision to locate an SMR there.

Clewett also spoke of SaskPower joining the CANDU Owners Group, a nuclear energy not-for-profit corporation which consists of groups operating CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) reactors.

He said it “provides that central focus for the Canada plants,” adding SaskPower would join some other groups like the safety oriented World Association of Nuclear Operators to “help us make sure we’re leveraging all the lessons learned and experience that has been accumulated over the many years of nuclear power generation.”