Ready4SMR Overview
Saskatchewan is one of four Canadian provinces poised to lead Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development in Canada., continuing our Canadian initiatives of generating clean nuclear energy for a carbon-free economy. The existing nuclear sector plays a key role in Canada’s economy contributing $17 billion annually while supporting 76,000 Canadian jobs.
SMRs are the next generation of nuclear energy innovation with the potential to help address challenges and opportunities related to climate change, provide cleaner power to remote Indigenous communities, and provide economic growth. The 2018 Canadian SMR Roadmap concluded that SMRs provide a source of safe, clean, and affordable energy with the ability to contribute towards a resilient, low-carbon future. SMRs can promote key benefits, such as:
- Contributing to economic reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous People(s).
- Unlocking opportunities for job creation and economic growth in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
- Meeting Canada’s climate change commitments.
- Sustaining and expanding Canada’s leadership in research and innovation.
With these drivers in mind the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on December 1,2019 that established a framework for SMR deployment in each jurisdiction. These provinces must now work with local suppliers to satisfactorily develop the skills, capabilities and resources required to pivot to an “SMR Ready” supply chain to successfully deploy SMRs. A robust supply chain must include the participation of local Indigenous-owned companies.
The First Nations Power Authority (FNPA) and its partners have initiated a “Ready4SMR” program in Saskatchewan to prepare Saskatchewan Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses to participate in the nuclear economy. It will be completed as a two-phased approach to make the nuclear supply chain in Saskatchewan SMR Ready by assisting Saskatchewan companies in adopting the business processes, standards, and overarching “safety culture” required of qualified nuclear suppliers. Phase 1 of the program will focus on training, education, and engagement across Saskatchewan. FNPA and its partners will execute Phase 1 over the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Phase 2 will shift from acquiring skills and education to completing transitions to become qualified nuclear companies. It will follow successful execution of Phase 1.
This phase (Phase 1) of the program will include initial consultation with Indigenous businesses including several workshops for Indigenous communities and two one-day “Supplier Days” to provide information to Indigenous companies interested in participating in the nuclear supply chain in Saskatchewan. These events will assist Saskatchewan Indigenous companies interested in participating in the nuclear supply chain to better understand nuclear contractor requirements to help them determine if they would like to participate in a broader “Ready4SMR” program to become nuclear certified.
FNPA held its first workshop focussed on Treaty 4 nations on March 18th in Regina, a similar workshop for Treaty 6 nations will be held in the Saskatoon area in mid May, and additional workshops will be held throughout the year highlighting various relevant topics. FNPA will also be hosting two supplier days, these events will provide more details on the requirements from manufacturers and regulators. It is expected that a supplier day will be held in Saskatoon in June, and one will be held in Regina in August.
Please contact Noel Voykin at nvoykin@fnpa.ca for more information.