Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) project to refurbish the four Candu units at Darlington is now 86% complete, with unit 1 preparing to restart ahead of schedule. Meanwhile disassembly work on unit 4 continues - and the company has announced its latest corporate green bond issue.

The UK, US and Canadian nuclear regulators have outlined high-level principles for deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in the nuclear sector while maintaining adequate safety and security.

Actions being taken by various countries to meet the target of tripling global nuclear power generating capacity by 2050 were discussed by panellists during a session at World Nuclear Symposium 2024. Cooperation will be key to meeting the target, they agreed.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission are seeking public comments on Bruce Power's Initial Project Description for a potential new nuclear power station at its existing site on the shores of Lake Huron.

As work progresses at the site for Ontario Power Generation's Darlington New Nuclear Project, a massive tunnel boring machine that will be used in site preparations has been named Harriet Brooks in honour of Canada's first female nuclear physicist.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Business Development Bank of Canada have announced a lead investment of CAD10 million (USD7.3 million) each in Canadian private fusion developer General Fusion. Meanwhile, the US Department of Energy has awarded USD4.6 million in 17 awards to fund public-private partnerships for fusion research.


 

Candu Energy Inc has agreed with Third Qinshan Nuclear Power Company Limited to support the ongoing 30-year life extension of the two Candu reactors at the Qinshan Nuclear Generating Station, while Bruce Power has awarded a CAD700 million (USD510 million) contract to replace steam generators at Bruce units 5, 7 and 8 to the AECON-led Steam Generator Replacement Team joint venture.

The reactor removal series at Bruce unit 3 has been completed ahead of schedule thanks to experience gained from previous projects - with the removal of the calandria tubes setting a new record for Candu refurbishment.

The change in costs for the company's 100%-owned project in Saskatchewan reflects both inflationary changes over recent years and the advancement of engineering and procurement, optimised constructability, and enhanced environmental performance.

At the mid-year point, Canadian uranium producer Cameco said its expectation for uranium deliveries for the year remains unchanged, but Kazakh producer NAC Kazatomprom is increasing its 2024 full year production guidance to reflect the half-year results.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories has received shipments of disused radium-226 sources from the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology, which will be recycled to produce actinium-225 to be used in targeted radiotherapy.

Three nuclear research projects at the University of Regina have been awarded funding totalling CAD580,000 (USD424,000) by Innovation Saskatchewan through the Innovation and Science Fund.