WEYBURN – An information drop-in session was hosted by SaskPower in Weyburn at the Leisure Centre on Friday afternoon, as the Crown corporation is looking into the potential of siting a nuclear power facility in the southeast area.
Around 15 or 20 people attended the drop-in session, and more are being planned in the Weyburn area, but no dates have been set as yet.
With power-generating plants in Estevan and Coronach mandated to be shut down by 2030, SaskPower is considering a range of options, including small modular nuclear plants, to replace the source of power generation.
The utility will not make a decision about small modular reactors until 2029, but are beginning the planning process now as they consider what locations might be suitable.
In terms of technology, SaskPower has selected the GE Hitachi BWRX-300 design for use in Saskatchewan.
The informal drop-in sessions had information boards and staff on hand to talk about what might be possible, and to ask residents if they have concerns, or what areas of information they might want to see.
Possible sites are being looked at, and they propose making site selections by 2025, with two areas in the province short-listed for evaluation. One of these is the Estevan study area that includes the Rafferty and Boundary dam areas, and the Grant Devine dam.
The other study area is at Elbow, including from the Diefenbaker dam to the Gardiner dam on Lake Diefenbaker.
In choosing this as one of the possible locations, SaskPower considered a number of criteria, including proximity to a large lake or reservoir; existing power structure; existing workforce; and proximity to emergency services.
If they decide to locate somewhere in the study area, they will identify and protect any environmentally sensitive lands and habitats, and archeological and heritage resources.
The time-line as of right now is do an impact assessment and obtain a licence to prepare a site by 2029, at which a final decision will be made on whether to build a small nuclear reactor.
A licence to construct would be obtained by 2030, and a licence to operate will be obtained by 2031, according to the plans.
