The Saskatchewan government will ask the public for its opinion on nuclear energy now that a report on the future of the province’s uranium industry has been released.
The Uranium Development Partnership, led by Richard Florizone, a nuclear physicist and vice-president of finance at the University of Saskatchewan, made 20 recommendations about how to develop the uranium industry.
One of them was to include nuclear power in the province’s long-term plan for its energy grid, “given its cost-competitiveness as a baseload power alternative and the economic value it would generate within the province.”
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Another recommendation is to support communities that are willing to accommodate a facility for storing spent uranium fuel. Saskatchewan is one of four provinces identified by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization as a potential host.
“I can assure you that no decisions have been made,” said provincial enterprise and innovation minister Lyle Stewart.
The report looked at exploration and mining, upgrading, power generation, used fuel management, and research, development and training.
Stewart urged the public to become informed and involved.
Nine community meetings will be held between May 19 and June 5. They will take place in Prince Albert, Buffalo Narrows, The Battlefords, Lloydminster, Yorkton, Estevan, Swift Current, Regina and Saskatoon.
The province will hold a major stakeholder conference and is also launching a website at www.saskuranium where the report will be posted and the public can provide input.
