Brad Wall spells out “small reactors” for tar sands. The industry spells out “small reactors” for tar sands”.
The article is in relation to Alberta. Edmonton Journal:
2008-03-29 Alberta with Idaho National Laboratory to study nuclear role in oilsands
A couple of excerpts:
- “A recent study by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers predicted technical barriers and public skepticism will prevent atomic energy from having a significant effect on oilsands projects before 2020.”
- ” Shell, Chevron and Dow Chemical are collaborating with the Idaho lab (IDAHO NATIONAL Laboratory) to devise uses of nuclear technology to reduce carbon emissions and natural gas consumption by U.S. oil and petrochemical plants, . . . Pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and natural gas use will encourage oilsands developers to pay attention to technical improvements offered by the nuclear-power industry, said an executive of a candidate to build Alberta atomic plants. (“a candidate”!! . . . Bruce Power, are you trying to hide?!)
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Looks like everything now shifted to Saskatchewan. Except that the first bullet below (a quote) is cautionary.
Brad Wall spells out “small reactor technology” to “develop our oil sands”:
- May 2007, as leader of the opposition 2007-05-23 Nuclear: Brad Wall spells out “small reactor technology” to “develop our oil sands”.
- 2008, after becoming premier. 2008-03-28 Wall says he has big plans for nuclear power in Sask.
MAY 23 This news release from Wall. Then May 31, see “Saskatchewan’s Booming Uranium Industry” CBC, The Current, below.
Saskatchewan Party Caucus News Releases
Saskatchewan Should Be a World Leader in Uranium Valued-Added Opportunities
Wall Says Sask. Party Govt. Would Create a “Made in Saskatchewan” Development Plan
Wednesday – May 23, 2007
SASKATOON — Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall today said it’s time for Saskatchewan to go beyond simply mining and exporting uranium and become a world leader in other aspects of the uranium cycle.
Speaking to the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Wall said a Saskatchewan Party government would immediately develop and implement a uranium value-added plan for research and development, uranium refinement and possible nuclear power production in Saskatchewan.
“It’s time for a full and open discussion of all of the potential of uranium and the nuclear option in Saskatchewan,” Wall said. “At a time when Saskatchewan and the world need new sustainable energy sources, nuclear energy could provide a low-cost solution that will meet this demand and reduce our carbon footprint for future generations.”
Wall said the Saskatchewan Party’s vision for uranium development is a sharp contrast from the NDP’s lack of vision in this area.
“When I asked Lorne Calvert about his vision for the uranium industry, it’s clear it doesn’t go much beyond mining,” Wall said. “Saskatchewan is the largest producer of uranium in the world, yet the NDP government is content to simply ship it away and let others do the refining and enrichment, produce the energy, and create the highly-skilled, high-paying jobs that we need here in Saskatchewan.”
Wall said he would like to see the University of Saskatchewan become a leader in nuclear science.
“The University of Saskatchewan could become a nuclear centre of excellence, leading in areas like nuclear engineering, nuclear physics, nuclear medicine and fusion research,” Wall said. Wall said a Saskatchewan Party government would look at new growth tax incentives for companies that develop new uranium value-added opportunities in Saskatchewan. Wall noted that the province could be leading in the areas of refining and enrichment as well as in research into recycling and storage.
Next month, Wall will travel to Boston where he will meet with officials at the Nuclear Research Centre at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to discuss further nuclear industry opportunities and the potential of small reactor technology for Saskatchewan. He will take a similar message of the potential for Saskatchewan to be a continental energy centre to meetings in New York and Washington.
“Small reactor technology is coming on fast and may present an opportunity for our province to develop our oil sands in an environmentally responsible way as the new technology produces much-needed steam as well as energy,” Wall said. “With all of our renewable and non-renewable energy resources, Saskatchewan can be a big part of the solution for North American energy independence.
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For further information: Saskatchewan Party Caucus, Regina, 787-4300.
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AIRED MAY 31:
Subject: LISTEN: CBC The Current: Saskatchewan’s Booming Uranium Industry
They’re doing a story on the uranium mining boom in Saskatchewan, addressing the concerns around uranium and the mining – health, environmental, others.
CBC’s The Current on 540 AM Radio – Thursday, May 31, 2007, starting at 8:35 a.m.
See The Current’s Archives at:
http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/logs2007.html <http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/logs2007.html>