Saskatchewan nuclear power plan aims to produce 2,600MW by 2050

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has unveiled the province’s nuclear energy plan, including a power production goal within 24 years.

Under the plan, the province aims to produce at least 2,600 megawatts of nuclear power by 2050. By comparison, Ontario’s Pickering Nuclear Generating Station produces 2,100 MW of electricity, powering 1.5 million homes annually, according to the Government of Canada

“Our future electricity mix in this province will include, yes, natural gas; it will include hydro, wind, solar as well as some thermal,” Moe said Tuesday. “But we must also invest in a future source of power that is reliable in every season. Available around the clock, is affordable for decades to come, affordable for us to continue to attract that investment, but also, most importantly, affordable for the families that live here.”

The province says its plan contains four priorities:

The first priority is focused on nuclear energy providing a reliable source of non-emitting electricity to strengthen the reliability of the power grid and meeting growing demand.

Incorporating large reactors will see SaskPower begin planning for the potential development of such structures in northwestern Saskatchewan.

Moe said more than 2,000 of that 2,600 megawatt goal will come from large-scale nuclear reactors, the first of which is planned to come online by 2042.

“To put that into perspective, 600 megawatts can power the equivalent of Saskatchewan’s two largest cities, Regina and Saskatoon,” Moe explained. “Twenty-six hundred megawatts could power the equivalent of 2.6 million homes.”

Consultations with local communities near the proposed reactors and Indigenous peoples would be part of SaskPower’s evaluation of potential locations.

Crown Investment Corporations Minister Jeremy Harrison told reporters that 2042 for the first large reactor was a “very realistic timeline.”

He said there have been “very good” discussions regarding long-term plans with the federal government, along with the governments of Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

“I’ve said publicly often that, you know, there’s a lot in Canada that pushes us apart. Nuclear is one of those things that really can bring the country together from Ontario to Western Canada to New Brunswick,” Harrison said Tuesday.

Saskatchewan has already been looking into the idea of nuclear energy, with the government and SaskPower in a multi-year planning phase of a proposed small modular reactor (SMR) by the mid-2030s.

Those SMRs are highlighted in the province’s plan, with the Rafferty site near Estevan selected to undergo further study for development of such a reactor. The utility plans to advance planning for potential SMR deployment with a goal of delivering at least 600 megawatts.

“This plan gives SaskPower a clear path to meet growing demand and support the investment and industries that keep our province strong,” said Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison in a news release.

The final goal of Saskatchewan’s plan is focused on ensuring electricity supply keeps up with demand.

The province says it plans to engage with Indigenous rights holders, municipalities, industry stakeholders and other leaders as it makes further plans for nuclear energy.

Tim Gitzel, CEO of Cameco, one of the largest uranium mining companies in the world, said the plan recognizes the “essential role” nuclear power plays in supporting growth.

“We understand the economic, environmental and energy security benefits that safe, reliable and carbon-free nuclear power can provide for our people, communities, and industries,” Gitzel said in a news release. “We look forward to competing for the province’s business as it embarks on this transformative plan to build a reliable energy grid, utilizing nuclear energy to power Saskatchewan’s future.”

Nuclear energy will also provide more than just electricity, Moe said, it will provide opportunities for tradespeople, Indigenous businesses, technological companies, fabricators and suppliers.

He told reporters the Saskatoon-based mining company is working with the federal government on regulations and opportunities to expand its workforce. When asked by reporters about costs, he said the numbers “change over time.” Harrison said there was the potential for private sector financing to be “part of the conversation.”

—with files from The Canadian Press