Cameco is optimistic about the long-term fundamentals of the uranium market and expects to buy 20-22 million pounds U3O8 (7693-8462 tU) this year - mostly from the spot market - to meet its committed deliveries. That's 1-3 million pounds more than in 2019, CEO Tim Gitzel said during his presentation of the Canadian uranium producer's financial and operating results on 7 February. The spot market however is underperforming on weak demand, he said.

Ontario Power Generation said it remains committed to seeking safe and permanent disposal of nuclear waste after the members of Saugeen Ojibway Nation voted not to support plans for a deep geologic repository for low and intermediate-level waste at the Bruce nuclear site. OPG said in 2013 that it would not build the DGR without the support of the First Nation.

Bruce Power has awarded SNC-Lavalin wholly-owned subsidiary Candu Energy Inc three contracts worth a total of CAD34 million (USD26 million) for projects in support of the Major Component Replacement programme at the Bruce nuclear power plant. They include fuel channel and feeder replacement detailed designs for Bruce units 3 and 4, and a seismic margin assessment of the Ontario site.
 

Bruce Power has completed a training simulator at its Bruce nuclear power plant in Ontario, Canada, that will be used to train and test certified operators to extend the operation of the plant to 2064. The simulator complements the existing simulators at the site and uses state-of-the-art software modelling and analytical-based computer codes.

Canada's Nuclear Waste Management Organisation has signed agreements with landowners in South Bruce, Ontario to allow access to land for studies at a potential location for a deep geological repository.

Bruce Power has formally begun the execution phase of its first Major Component Replacement project by taking Bruce 6 offline. Six Candu units at the Bruce site are to be upgraded between now and 2033, extending their operation to 2064.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is to take part in the decommissioning of a prototype boiling water reactor in Lingen, Germany under a subcontract awarded by Atkins Energy Germany GmbH. The four-year contract includes the secondment of CNL staff as well as the provision of specialist equipment services and will see CNL for the first time apply skills and capabilities gained from Canadian decommissioning projects in the international market.

The Solicitor General of Ontario has apologised for the public alert issued in error by Ontario's Provincial Emergency Operations Centre during a routine training exercise yesterday. An investigation will be held to find the cause of the error, which meant residents were notified that an incident had taken place at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station when none had. The false alert was sent about 7:25am local time and PEOC retracted it at about 9:11 am.

Canada and the USA have finalised an agreement to collaborate on improving the security of supply chains and ensure the future competitiveness of their critical minerals industries. The announcement follows a June 2019 commitment by the countries' leaders.

NuScale Power has made its first submittals to Canada's nuclear regulator for a pre-licensing vendor design review for its small modular reactor design. The reactor is also undergoing a design certification review in the USA where the company plans to bring a plant into production and operation by 2026.
 

General Fusion has secured financing to launch a programme to design, construct and operate a prototype fusion demonstration plant, the Canadian company said yesterday.

New Brunswick Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland yesterday affirmed the province's support for the siting of ARC Nuclear Canada Inc's ARC-100 small modular reactor at the existing Point Lepreau nuclear power plant.