ESTEVAN — Southeast Saskatchewan residents learned more about the SMR project proposed for the Estevan area during a series of SaskPower engagement sessions.
In addition to events held at the Days Inn Estevan on June 25 and 26, engagements were also held in Oxbow on June 25, Torquay on June 26, and Midale and Weyburn on June 27. SaskPower representatives explained the project and answered questions from the public.
A series of placards were set up in each location, explaining the current and future power needs for Saskatchewan, why it is looking at SMRs, the timelines for project approval and construction, the potential locations for the Estevan area, how the SMR would operate and the safety measures, including what is done with the waste.
Travis Sandeski, a public engagement consultant for SaskPower, said they had about 30 people attend the gatherings in Estevan, with the evening session attracting more visitors. Attendance was low for the Oxbow meeting, and Sandeski believes it was partly due to timing since it happened during the day, and partly because Grant Devine Lake near Alameda is no longer viewed as a potential site.
Sandeski said the Crown corporation had been to Oxbow previously to discuss the project, and SaskPower was encouraged to return and update citizens.
"That area around Oxbow and Alameda was at one time circled on the map saying 'Hey, we want to find a site here', and now all our sites are in the other area [around Estevan]," said Sandeski.
People who attended the sessions in Estevan wanted to know about timelines and employment, including when SaskPower is expected to select its preferred site for Estevan. They also want to know when construction would begin and when the SMR would start producing power.
A lot of people are curious about the technical aspects of the project, Sandeski said, but SaskPower didn't receive as many questions about that side. Still, some people ask how waste is managed and how this project will impact water.
"We went out with some of these boards and information quite a bit in the past year, and so those questions are trailing now. At this time last year, we had a lot of questions about how is that water used, is it going through the reactor, is it radioactive. And today we get a lot less questions."
It might be because people have educated themselves about the project, or it might be because SaskPower has answered questions previously on operations.
Premier Scott Moe revealed in late May that Saskatchewan's first SMR – if the project goes ahead – would be located in the Estevan area. Locations on Boundary Dam and Rafferty Dam are being considered for the project.
The official site is expected to be selected in early 2025. The federal regulatory approval process can then begin, and a decision on whether the project will go ahead is not expected until 2029, and Sandeski said they received some questions about why it will take so long.
The SMR is not expected to be operational until 2034.
"People look at that chart, and it looks like a long ways out, and I know some people look at that chart and it looks … reasonably aggressive, I like to say. But most people are like, hurry up," said Sandeski.
The plant, which would generate at least 300 megawatts of power, would employ more than 150 people.
