The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission recently granted a 20-year license renewal for Cameco Fuel Manufacturing in Port Hope.
In operation since 1935, it’s the only facility of it’s kind in Canada and provides fuel bundles for the province, the county and facilities around the world.
We spoke with VP of Fuel Services Division Dale Clark who told us they’re very pleased with the announcement.
Clark told us a bit about their facilities here in Northumberland County.
According to Clark, more than half of the electricity generated in Ontario uses nuclear power and that will be increasing as the province works to meet carbon emission targets.
You may have heard of Small Modular Reactors, in fact there is a project underway at Darlington to build North America’s first SMR by 2028 in partnership with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, SNC-Lavalin and Aecon.
The SMR at the Darlington site will produce 300 megawatts of baseload power to the grid, enough energy to support around 300-thousand homes, not to mention the thousands of jobs it will create over its expected lifetime.
Cameco’s licence renewal is also good news for the community. Dale told us that their program is built on the fundamental belief that supportive communities are a key measure of the company’s long-term success.
Each year the company targets one percent of after-tax net earnings for community initiatives and projects like Step Up for Mental Health. Since beginning in 2004, Employee Giving campaigns have provided almost $12.3 million back into local communities.
Funds support the local United Ways in Northumberland County, as well as dozens of charities personally chosen by individual employees.
Written by Joseph Goden
