Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online
REGINA – If your company wants in on Saskatchewan’s soon-to-be developing nuclear power generation industry, you should probably get in your truck early Wednesday morning and show up at the Regina Delta Hotel.
That’s because the Saskatchewan Industrial & Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA) is holding its 9th Annual Saskatchewan Suppliers Energy Forum. And this year, the first half of the day focuses on oil, but the second half of the event is dedicated to nuclear power development.
And there’s a very good reason for it, as SIMSA has been tasked by the provincial government to develop a nuclear supply chain within Saskatchewan, especially since current estimates are up to $4-$5 billion per reactor, although they could be potentially less. SaskPower estimates peak workforce will be 1750 people during construction, per unit. Thus, there will be opportunities to be had, to the tune of several billion dollars, in what will likely be the priciest infrastructure project in this province to date.
Walk-ins are being accepted, at $525 per person. Registration and breakfast is at 7:30 a.m., with the trade show opening at 8 a.m. and presentations starting at 9 a.m.
Wednesday morning will feature presentations by Crescent Point Energy Corp., Federated Co-operatives Limited and Cenovus, SaskPower (non-nuclear) and the Government of Saskatchewan. In the afternoon there will be presentations from Cameco, GE-Hitachi, Westinghouse, X-Energy, Saskatchewan Research Council, OCNI and X-Energy.
While it’s going to take at least six years before shovels hit the ground in Saskatchewan, Ontario is already working on building the first small modular reactor of the General Electric-Hitachi BWRX-300 design. That’s the design SaskPower has chosen. While some might think that Ontario, which is building four such reactors and has decades of experience in nuclear development would have a tremendous head start for vendors, Anderson pointed out that’s not entirely the case. SIMSA and SaskPower recently held nuclear development event in Saskatoon, and he noted the Ontario businesses are looking for people and businesses here, in Saskatchewan, to participate, because they are short-staffed.
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When asked how many widgets might be built in Weyburn or Estevan, Anderson replied, “Well, that’s the thing, right? It hasn’t been decided. But I can guarantee you they won’t be built there if they don’t get their foot in the door.”
He added, “Our (SIMSA membership) database is being used by Ontario Power Generation, SaskPower, GE-Hitachi, Westinghouse and X-Energy as a shortlisting tool, as well as AECOM and SNC out east, in their work. Whoever ends up being the engineer/constructor will be used by them as well,” Anderson said.
While SaskPower is looking at several reactors (six have been mentioned by the CEO, but as many as nine by the previous SaskPower minister), and dozens more being considered in Europe, this is an opportunity to get involved in providing the supply chain for all of them.
“It’s not just here. You’ve got to get in early, because the same people are going to be putting these things in all over the place,” Anderson said.
“The goal is to be modular, so the goal is to use the same vendors again.”
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To that end, SIMSA has hired a nuclear development specialist, Tom Kishchuk, to head up its efforts. Anderson said, “Tom was kind of going through the designs of the reactors and everything, figuring out what has to be procured, who will be procuring it, and what’s likely the best thing we should do here. What’s possible? What shouldn’t be? That kind of thing, right? Kind of what’s feasible and what would take what, (such as) just a good business decision, what would take serious government intervention and arm twisting to make it happen? So, he’ll figure it out for on behalf of our members, and when our members want to know what to do, they can talk to him. We can also help our members with risk assessment.”
Thus, being a SIMSA member is really key to being part of this process.
Anderson said, “Okay, so now you’ve got something you could potentially do at your company. Now, how many people, how much time and money would this take? And when would you potentially start getting paid though, because some of the stuff is near horizon, some of its further down the road?
“And then some of it needs nuclear accreditation, depending on where it is in the facility. So there’s the accreditation process as well, which we’d work that,” he said.
Kazakhstan
Anderson noted the ambassador from Kazakhstan will be speaking. Anderson said there’s a lot in common between Saskatchewan and Kazakhstan, with uranium, potash, agriculture, oil and gas being key to their economy. “They’re basically us,” he said.
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Second day focused on Estevan/Weyburn
The following day is a separate, but related event, also sponsored by SIMSA, and also related to developing a nuclear supply chain. On Thursday, The Estevan TechHub, International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) and SIMSA are collaborating to host a seminar on produce and services needs from the mining industry. It will focus on how which suppliers to Estevan’s and Weyburn’s oil and gas industries can learn about the opportunities to turn their abilities and skills to meeting the innovation needs of the province’s minerals industry and to become suppliers to future small modular reactors.
Al Shpyth, executive director of the IMII, will provide examples of some of the technology development needs that exist in Saskatchewan’s minerals industry and how the IMII may be a pathway for oil and gas suppliers to bring their innovative technologies to the attention of the minerals industry.
James Bulmer, SIMSA’s Industrial Concierge, will speak to the potential for Saskatchewan companies to become part of the supply chain to support the adoption of SMRs in the province.
Registration on Thursday is at 7:30 a.m. at the Regina Delta, followed by breakfast at 8 a.m., presentation starting at 8:30 a.m., and the event wrapping up at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $47.25 per person.
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