By Colin Budd
Saskatchewan Energy Minister Bill Boyd says cost and demand were the two biggest factors that determined the province not proceeding with a 1,000 megawatt nuclear facility in the province.
He said the province just couldn’t justify a power plant similar to the one Bruce Power had proposed.
“When you look at the (projected population) growth and demand that there will be leading out to 2020, it’s about 1,000 megawatts, but it’s incremental,” Boyd told the Source on Thursday.
“This was just a little too large of a project for Saskatchewan’s needs at this time.”
Boyd said the province left the door open if a similar project was seen as feasible and if the demand required it down the road.
“I would say the main drivers (in the decision) are cost to the system and cost, ultimately to the consumers, coupled with the demand that simply isn’t large enough for a facility this size,” said Boyd.
Boyd said the Uranium Development Partnership report, which included public consultations around the province also played a part, even though all the suggestions will now be followed through.
“It certainly was a very interesting discussion,” said Boyd. “It highlighted both the concerns that people had and the opportunities that there may be.”
The government’s strategic direction on uranium includes:
• Continuing to facilitate the uranium exploration and mining that has taken place in Saskatchewan for over 50 years;
• Encouraging investment in nuclear research, development and training opportunities, specifically in the areas of mining, neutron science, isotopes, small scale reactor design and enrichment;
• Reserving decisions on supporting Saskatchewan communities interested in hosting nuclear waste management facilities to when such proposals are advanced in a regulatory process; and
• Directing SaskPower to continue including nuclear power in the range of energy options available for additional baseload generation capacity in the medium and long term after 2020.