Candu's Enhanced CANDU 6 (EC6) achieves important milestone of Canadian Regulator's Pre-Project Design Review
MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 4, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has completed Phase 2 of a Pre-Project Design Review of Candu Energy Inc.'s Enhanced CANDU 6® (EC6®) reactor. The CNSC has concluded that there are no fundamental barriers to licensing the EC6 design in Canada.
"The CNSC has determined in this Phase 2 stage of their review that overall, the design intent of the EC6 complies with their regulatory requirements and expectations," said Candu Chief Nuclear Engineer Frank Yee. "With this achievement, our Generation III EC6 has completed the key step for licensing consideration of a nuclear power plant in Canada."
The objective of a Pre-Project Design Review is to verify, at a high level, the acceptability of a nuclear power plant design with respect to Canadian regulatory requirements and expectations. In Phase 2, the focus was on identifying any potential fundamental barriers to licensing the EC6 design in Canada.
A copy of the Phase 2 Executive Summary is available for downloading from the CNSC website at:
The positive conclusion follows the earlier Phase 1 Pre-Project Design Review of the EC6, which was completed by the CNSC in 2010.
"The EC6 design is an evolutionary design," said Yee. "It benefits from having its design based on our CANDU 6 technology, which has been proven highly successful, with 11 units licensed and operating in five countries." Yee added that the EC6 has built on the success of the CANDU 6®, enhancing safety and licensability to meet the latest Canadian and international expectations for a new plant.
The Pre-Project Design Review opens up opportunities for international CANDU® sales, by serving as the reference for other regulators to accelerate licensing in their countries.
Phase 3 of the Pre-Project Design Review will allow Candu to provide the CNSC with further information requested in Phase 2, particularly completion of the research and development program and the resolution of some findings and technical clarifications, including Candu's response to the Fukushima event.
About the Enhanced CANDU 6
The Enhanced CANDU 6 (EC6) is a 700MW Class Generation III reactor based on the highly successful CANDU 6 reactor with a number of safety enhancements to meet the latest Canadian and international standards. It uses natural uranium fuel, heavy-water moderator and heavy-water coolant in a pressure tube design. It can be refueled on power and has one of the highest lifetime capacity factors among the world's reactors. It is ideal for small and medium electric grids, and benefits from the CANDU 6 experience of proven design, construction and operation.
About Candu
Candu is a leading full-service nuclear technology company providing nuclear power reactors and nuclear products and services to customers worldwide. Our 1,400 highly skilled employees design and deliver state-of-the-art CANDU® reactors, carry out life extension projects, provide plant life management programs and tools, and offer operation and maintenance services for existing nuclear power stations.
CANDU reactors supply approximately 50% of Ontario's electricity and 16% of Canada's overall electricity requirements. Internationally, they are an important component of clean air energy programs on four continents with over 22,000 megawatts of installed capacity. Candu Energy Inc. develops products to deliver safe, reliable, affordable and CO2-free energy with a view to the future, while meeting the global nuclear industry's highest safety and regulatory standards.
Candu is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin Inc. (TSX: SNC).
Katherine Ward
Director, External Communications
Candu Energy Inc.
905-403-7349
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