The County of Renfrew has received an update on plans to build a micro modular reactor in Chalk River.

A presentation was made to County Council on Wednesday morning (April 28th, 2022).

Managing Director for Global First Power, Jos Diening, says one micro modular reactor could power 5,000 homes and is designed for off grid remote communities who use diesel as a source of electricity. Diening says these reactors would replace up to 200-milion litres of diesel fuel over the 20-year lifespan.

Diening says one micro modular reactor would be the size of two Olympic running tracks and the proposed location is an employee parking lot located at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories site in Chalk River.

Laurentian Hills Mayor Jed Reinwald asked if the reactors could be refueled after use.

Diening says they do not plan to refuel the micro modular reactor at the Chalk River site since it will be used a full scale demonstration. He says the reactor at the Chalk River site would be decommissioned after use.

The Managing Director for Global First Power is hopeful construction will begin in 2024 to 2025 with the micro modular reactor in Chalk River operational by 2026 or 2027.

Director of Development and Property for the County of Renfrew, Craig Kelly, says this may be the first micro modular reactor in North America. Kelly adds it’s exciting to have companies like this invest in the County of Renfrew.

(written by: Rudy Kadlec)

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