CNL releases $1.2-billion vision for Chalk River. Photo © CNL. May 7, 2017 – “This is an important first step on our journey towards a new vision for CNL and the Chalk River campus,” said Mark Lesinski, president & CEO of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, on the release of a $1.2-billion, 10-year strategy and vision for the future of Chalk River Laboratories.
The strategy wasn’t developed in isolation, says CNL, adding it reflects input from global leaders in nuclear science, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., current customers and others in the nuclear supply chain, local communities and stakeholders, and from staff.
An investment of more than $1.2 billion over 10 years is intended for the facilities and infrastructure of Chalk River, including:
• Construction of the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre, which will include new shielded facilities and active laboratories for research involving active or irradiated materials.
• New electrical switchyard, expanded natural gas service, potable water lines and sanitary sewer system.
• Construction of modern, energy-efficient facilities to accommodate maintenance and operations activities, logistics and security, and a new business centre.
CNL releases $1.2-billion vision for Chalk River. Photo © CNL.
Also among the highlights is what CNL calls “an exciting program in science and technology, which includes ambitious goals such as”:
• Siting of a new, small modular reactor onsite by 2026.
• Development and demonstration of a suite of targeted alpha therapy compounds (an emerging medical isotope technology) by 2022.
• Expansion of our program in hydrogen, with a goal to play a leading role in the demonstration of hydrogen-based bulk transport by 2020.
• Demonstration of a new advanced fuel fabrication concept by 2020.
• Development, commercialization and deployment of a nuclear industrial control cyber-intrusion detection and mitigation system by 2022.
“New nuclear plants are being built all over the world, and I believe that CNL can enable Canadian industry to succeed in this arena,” said CNL’s Dr. Kathryn McCarthy. “Our scientists and engineers understand what it takes to bring a technology from design to deployment. They can take their technical skills and apply them to developing something that is practical for industry… and that makes us a unique resource.”
CNL reminds us the strategy is a forward-looking document, and includes projects that are subject to “rigorous licencing and regulatory processes”.
Print this page
