Two First Nation leaders escorted out of legislature after protesting Ontario’s accelerated mining development plans

NIALL MCGEE

MINING REPORTER
JEFF GRAY

QUEEN'S PARK REPORTER

PUBLISHED MARCH 29, 2023
Neskantaga Chief Wayne Moonias, centre in green, speaks alongside First Nations community members during an improvised press conference inside the Ontario legislature at Queen's Park in Toronto on March 29

.ALLISON JONES/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Two senior leaders of an Ontario First Nation were escorted out of the provincial legislature Wednesday, after loudly accusing Premier Doug Ford’s government of failing to consult them about mining in Northern Ontario’s “Ring of Fire” region.

The Ring of Fire, located about 550 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, has been a focus for the provincial government since significant mineral deposits were discovered there in 2006, and has long been championed by Mr. Ford as a key critical-minerals project. Calling it a “generational” economic opportunity for Ontarians, Mr. Ford has repeatedly vowed to accelerate mining in the remote area, to supply future electric-vehicle and battery factories in the south.

Currently, six provincial and federal environmental studies are under way on a proposed road into the Ring of Fire, which would connect the provincial highway network to the development – but could cost at least $2-billion. Mr. Ford’s government has pledged $1-billion, and repeatedly asked the federal government to match its commitment.

At least nine Indigenous communities are being consulted as part of that process, and two of them, Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation, are broadly in favour of development and are themselves leading an environmental assessment process on the building of a road.

Opinion: To develop Ontario’s Ring of Fire, we must develop trust with First Nations

Neskantaga First Nation says it wasn’t adequately consulted in key Ring of Fire environmental study

Several other First Nations whose traditional territories overlap on the Ring of Fire are vehemently opposed and argue they have not been adequately consulted.

The leaders of Neskantaga First Nation and four other First Nations, as well as about 80 community members, travelled to Queen’s Park from Northern Ontario, and pleaded with Mr. Ford on Wednesday to put the brakes on mining development.

“There will not be a Ring of Fire. [There has been] no free and prior informed consent,” Christopher Moonias, incoming chief of Neskantaga, told Mr. Ford from the gallery in Ontario’s legislature on Wednesday. “Doug Ford, you come and meet me.”

Mr. Moonias was escorted out of the room shortly after. Wayne Moonias, the current chief of Neskantaga, who joined Christopher in a chant against the Ring of Fire, was also escorted out.

Responding to questioning from MPP Sol Mamakwa, Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs, told the legislature that the Ford government is focused on “consensus and relationship building.”

Caitlin Clark, a spokesperson for Mr. Ford, said in an e-mail to The Globe and Mail that the Premier is in “constant communication” with Indigenous chiefs from across the province, but that his office is not aware of a formal invitation to meet with the First Nations communities that raised concerns on Wednesday

In addition to Neskantaga, Grassy Narrows, Wapekeka, Muskrat Dam First Nation and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (known as KI) also raised concerns in a news conference at Queen’s Park about Ontario’s open prospecting system, which allows individuals and corporations to amass mining claims without Indigenous consent.

Grassy Narrows Chief Rudy Turtle said that hundreds of thousands of hectares in additional claims have been staked over the past year or so in its traditional territories and that is having a detrimental environmental impact.

He said the community doesn’t want any mining development, fearing it would harm the environment and the land upon which the community depends for sustenance.

Grassy Narrows has waged a decades-long battle after a paper mill dumped large amounts of mercury into its rivers in the 1960s and 1970s, contaminating the First Nation’s rivers and supply of fish, and leaving many of its population suffering health effects from mercury poisoning.

While advanced exploration work requires Indigenous consultation before proceeding, currently, mining claims can be staked in Ontario without consultation, a reality Grassy Narrows would like to change.

Two First Nations in British Columbia have legally challenged the similarly open system for prospecting in that province. The First Nations say the system is unconstitutional, and that it violates the provincial government’s duty to consult. In April, the Supreme Court of British Columbia will hear their case against the provincial government.

The Ford government has shown no signs it is intending to change the rules of consent around prospecting. In fact, earlier this month, the government tabled legislation aimed at speeding up mine approvals.

The proposed changes would make it easier for companies to obtain permits to mine metals from tailings, allow companies to defer upfront payments on plans to close mines, and loosen restrictions related to the rehabilitation of shuttered mine sites.

Ontario has said that the measures would not compromise environmental standards and would not interfere with the government’s constitutional duty to consult Indigenous communities on mining projects.

Earlier this month, Neskantaga warned Ring of Fire Metals, the Australian mining company bent on developing the region, that it will have to use force against members of the First Nation before it would allow development.

Neskantaga said it was unable to participate in consultations on the Ring of Fire, or meet the process’s deadlines, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a population of just 400, Neskantaga is located about 430 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, and is among the most impoverished places in Canada. The First Nation has been under a boil-water advisory for more than 28 years.

B.C. low-carbon initiatives getting millions in grants from province

Victoria company Open Ocean Robotics received $1.75 million for its work on solar-powered unmanned vessels, which collect data from the ocean.

Carla Wilson
Mar 28, 2023 5:30 PM

Open Ocean Robotics chief technology officer Dr. Fritz Stahr, left, shows an Unsupervised Surface Vessel to Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, at an announcement about support for leading-edge clean energy on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

A five-year-old Victoria company has received $1.75 million from the province to continue developing solar-powered unmanned vessels to collect data from the ocean and instantly send it to its home base on land.

Open Ocean Robotics’ surface vehicles are equipped with sensors, cameras and communication technology. Out on the ocean, these autonomous vehicles can travel for months, withstand stormy conditions and they do not produce greenhouse gases.

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The company is one example of emerging “blue” technology in B.C.

A total of $7 million from the province’s Innovative Clean Energy Fund was announced Tuesday for seven projects.

Julie Angus, chief executive of Open Ocean Robotics, said, “This investment in sustainable ocean technology will help advance the maritime economy and beyond. It will protect oceans, reduce greenhouse gases and increase safety at sea.”

We need to better understand the oceans in order to protect them, Angus said. “We know very little about our oceans and have only touched upon the opportunities in the blue economy.”

The company has a team of 30 and is a global leader in using technology for more sustainable ocean monitoring, she said.

Uses so far include monitoring waters to help protected endangered southern resident killer whales and to combat illegal fishing, Angus said.

Another $2 million went to the South Island Prosperity Partnership’s Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST) to work as a catalyst for the blue economy along the coast. This organization is filling a gap in the marine sector by connecting emerging technologies to shipping, shipbuilding, and defence and aerospace industries.

Emilie de Rosenroll, chief executive of COAST, said the organization is bringing stakeholders together to develop competitive advantages.

Josie Osborne, minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, said this work will help the province transition to a low-carbon economy.

Since 2008, the innovative clean energy fund has provided $112 million to support clean-energy projects. “Reducing greenhouse gases and other pollution is critical to meeting our climate goals” within B.C.’s climate action plan, Osborne said.

“The impacts of climate change are all around us and people in B.C. know that delay is not an option.”

Other projects receiving funds:

• Pani Energy of Victoria uses artificial intelligence to optimize water-treatment infrastructure to cut energy use by up to 10 per cent and reduce chemical use by 10 per cent.

• Axine Water of Vancouver develops and sells electrochemistry technology. Its waste-water treatment system features improvements in hardware and software.

• Ecoation Innovation of North Vancouver is aiming to develop and demonstrate technology for greenhouses to reduce pesticide use and increase yield from crops.

• Terramera of Vancouver focuses on creating remote-sensing and data-enabled verification technology to give accurate estimates of soil carbon and a history of how a specific piece of land has been farmed in the past.

‘• Miru Smart Technologies of Vancouver creates electromagnetic windows that tint electronically. This translates to energy savings and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

cjwilson@timescolonist.com

Two Victoria companies receive funding for ocean projects

Posted: Mar. 28, 2023 

Open Ocean Robotics has received money for its uncrewed vehicles that can capture information and send it back to researchers instantly.

The provincial government has given funding to two Victoria companies to support creating jobs ocean-based jobs.

Open Ocean Robotics and South Island Prosperity Partnership’s Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST) are the two companies receiving money.

“B.C. innovators are building connections, developing technology and fuelling research that will help transition B.C. to a low-carbon economy, including in the ocean-based sector,” said Josie Osborne, minister of energy, mines and low-carbon innovation.

“Support for these leading-edge, pre-commercial projects ensures that British Columbians can continue to benefit from the growth and diversification of our first-class clean-technology sector.”

Open Ocean Robotics is receiving $1.75 million to develop uncrewed surface vehicles that are solar-powered and have sensors, cameras, and communication devices that can capture information and relay it back to researchers instantly.

“Our oceans are inherently extremely difficult to monitor when you think about the challenges of putting a crewed ship out on the water,” Julie Angus, the CEO of Open Ocean Robotics said. “So these autonomous boats can go out there for a fraction of the cost without putting any people at risk, and they’re completely zero emission.”

RELATED: Road to Recovery: How solar-powered robot boats fit into the ocean economy

Angus says one of the benefits is these boats can go out for months at a time and can communicate with researchers no matter where they are in the ocean by satellite, radio, or cellular and they are remote-controlled from Victoria.

COAST is receiving $2 million to work with other companies, researchers, or startups to connect them and help find new opportunities in ocean-related fields and to make ocean sectors more sustainable.

“The oceans are at the front lines of climate change, we’re seeing there’s so much pollution that’s occurring from maritime shipping,” Emilie de Rosenroll, the inaugural chief executive officer of COAST said.

“There’s some very aggressive targets to reduce that, the GHG reduction, so oceans are really at the forefront of a lot of different places where climate change is really, really something that’s very visible.”

These two projects are part of the seven total that the government is funding through its Innovative Clean Energy program, which aims to advance B.C.’s clean energy sector.

Fracking foes call for end to practice in B.C.

Kamloops was among B.C. communities that saw demonstrations on March 27

Kamloops This Week StaffMar 27, 2023 2:02 PM

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In Kamloops, members of Transition Kamloops took park in the protests, which called on Premier David Eby to end fracking, also called hydraulic fracturing, which is a technique for recovering gas and oil from shale rock.Wilderness Committee photo

Commuters using Overlanders Bridge in Kamloops on Monday, March 27, were greeted by opponents of the practice of fracking, who created banners and signs as part of a provincewide initiative that saw similar demonstrations in dozens of cities.

In Kamloops, members of Transition Kamloops took park in the protests, which called on Premier David Eby to end fracking, also called hydraulic fracturing, which is a technique for recovering gas and oil from shale rock. It involves drilling into the earth and directing a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals at a rock layer, to release the gas inside.

Concerns about fracking include the creation of wastewater, the emission of greenhouse gases, the release of toxic air pollutants, the triggering of earthquakes and the generation of noise

Demonstrations were supported by Frack Free BC, a new alliance of organizations and individuals that launched last year at Eby’s cabinet swearing-in ceremony. Frack Free BC is calling on the premier to stop issuing new permits for gas wells, to set a date to phase out existing production and to develop a plan to support workers and communities to transition to a sustainable economy.

‘Very concerned’ Vernon residents hold anti-fracking rally

By Jasmine King Global News
Posted March 28, 2023

Vernon residents hold rally against fracking

Vernon, B.C., residents say that fracked gas is one of B.C.’s fastest-growing climate problems and they want the government to consider greener options.

The signs and speeches of demonstrators Monday afternoon hoped to send a message about fracking and the liquid natural gas industry in the province.

“We’re just trying to make sure that people understand what is going on now and what is being planned for our province for the future,” said protestor Janet Parkins, adding that there is “no good reason for us to continue this industry.”

Those who took part in the rally stood outside Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu’s office and said they had one goal.

“We want a discontinuation of fracking in this province,” Parkins said. “There are many areas in the world, many European countries, many states, even Quebec, who have banned fracking.”

Frack Free BC held rallies in over 40 communities across the province. This comes as the provincial government approved the Cedar LNG project.

“We’re very concerned, said Eli Pivnick, a member of Climate Action Now. “We don’t have much more time. The temperatures are rising fast.”

“Even though we keep having the Canadian government and the B.C. government put out new goals for how much we’re going to reduce greenhouse gases, we never hit the targets. They need much more of a push to do the right thing.”

Protestors say that although the effects aren’t felt as much in the valley, they hit each part of the province differently.

“Indigenous people are suffering from environmental degradation,” Parkins said. “They’re suffering negative health effects. Those of us here are really quite unaware of what’s going on up there. For no valuable purpose, we are ruining their lives, their livelihoods.”

Local groups want to see the government consider more renewable energy options in the near future.

 

Demonstrators hang ‘Frack Free’ banner off Richmond overpass on Monday

Fracking is a practice used in 91 per cent of B.C.'s gas production.

Valerie Leung
Mar 27, 2023



Demonstrators with Frack Free BC in Richmond.

Frack Free BC

Demonstrators hung a banner off the Westminster Highway overpass over Highway 99 on Monday morning to protest fracking.


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Richmond was one of 40 B.C. communities where demonstrators from Frack Free BC, an organization calling for an end to fracking, hung their handmade banners.

Fracking is used in 91 per cent of B.C.’s gas production and is a form of natural gas extraction that requires pumping gallons of pressurized, chemically treated water into shattered rock formations.

The Frack Free BC campaign was launched at Premier David Eby’s cabinet swearing-in ceremony last year.

The organization is calling on Eby to stop issuing new permits for gas wells, to phase out existing production and instead to support transitioning workers and communities to a sustainable economy.

“Pollution from B.C.’s gas industry is poised to explode if the five proposed liquified natural gas (LNG) projects that the province is currently considering on the West Coast are approved, built and supplied with fracked gas,” Frack Free BC said in a media statement.

“This concern was heightened last week when the province approved the controversial Cedar LNG project.”

Fracking and LNG exports are responsible for “19 per cent of the province’s total greenhouse gas emissions,” according to Frack Free BC.

“With B.C. already projected to fall short of its 2030 target (40 per cent decrease from 2007), and communities facing increased health risks from fracking, it is past time for Premier Eby to act.”

Biotransformation technology and its promise to turn plastics biodegradable- 

30 Mar 2023

Devesh KumarCurrently, the world is producing around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste every year (UNESCO)

The Biotransformation Technology presents a new and innovative strategy for effectively and efficiently processing plastics that evade refusing streams resulting in their biodegradation

Our world has developed a strong reliance on plastic items, resulting in significant negative impacts on the environment, society, economy, and health. Around the world, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, while up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) said. With utility at such a large scale, alternate techniques have also been discovered as a UK-based startup now claims to develop a technology that can transform the state of plastics.


The Biotransformation Technology presents a new and innovative strategy for effectively and efficiently processing plastics that evade refusing streams resulting in their biodegradation. The term refuses stream refers to the flow of solid waste materials that are generated from various sources.

Imperial College in London, UK, and a Britain-based startup, Polymateria have co-developed the technology. The technology produces plastics that have a predetermined lifespan in which they maintain the appearance and quality of traditional plastics.


However, once this lifespan expires and they are exposed to the surrounding environment, they undergo a self-destructive process and biotransform into wax that is bioavailable. Microorganisms then consume this wax, leading to the conversion of waste into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass.

For plastics to undergo biodegradation, they must be consumed by microorganisms and converted into water, CO2, and biomass. The conditions for this process may vary based on the type of microorganisms involved in the cycle, ensuring a safe return to the environment. Polymateria has shown that our technology works in tropical, arid and temperate conditions, which is where roughly 90% of the world’s population lives.

How long does biotransformation take?

The company claims that the biotransformation process of plastic starts quite quickly in nature. It begins to transform plastic into a wax over a period of 2 to 4 months, which may vary based on the climate. “We have shown the full biodegradation process can take place in under a year," Polymateria’s statement said.

What is the additional cost of using the technology?

According to the company, the increase in cost is relatively small when compared to conventional plastic that does not contain Polymateria’s technology. In comparison, other alternative biodegradable solutions such as PLA, PHA can be several times the price of a regular polymer.

Gamechanger for the food and healthcare industry:

The technology can be used in many industries but will be particularly beneficial for the food and healthcare industry as they generate a significant proportion of plastic waste. Some companies are even using such technologies, but Biotransformation will work as a complete game changer in the efforts.

At a time when the world is producing around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, such technologies can go a long way in providing an environment-friendly alternative to the dangerous plastic. The world is waking up to the problem, and governments, industry, and other stakeholders are starting to act.

APRIL 1 THE FOOL

 

 

UK looks to nuclear to bolster energy independence

30 March 2023

The UK government is committed to a programme of new nuclear projects beyond Sizewell C, giving industry and investors the confidence they need to deliver projects at speed, according to a new policy paper. It describes nuclear as "the critical baseload of the future energy system".

(Image: gov.uk)

Launched by Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps, the Powering Up Britain policy paper sets out "ambitious plans to scale up affordable, clean, homegrown power and build thriving green industries in Britain ... boosting the country's energy security and independence and reducing household bills for the long-term and maintaining a world-leading position in achieving net-zero".

The paper lists 12 new measures the government will take to achieve this. The government said it is committed to carbon capture usage and storage, and projects will soon be announced for the rollout of the first carbon capture clusters. The plans also include a GBP160 million (USD197 million) fund that will support the infrastructure for floating offshore wind projects, alongside a more than GBP380 million boost into the rollout of electric vehicle charging points and infrastructure. It also supports the first tranche of new green hydrogen production projects under the GBP240 million Net-Zero Hydrogen Fund as part of development of this new power source.

"This document - Powering Up Britain - is the government's blueprint for the future of energy in this country," Shapps said. "By bringing together our Energy Security Plan, and Net-Zero Growth Plan, it explains how we will diversify, decarbonise and domesticate energy production by investing in renewables and nuclear, to power Britain from Britain."

On nuclear, the government has launched Great British Nuclear (GBN), which will be responsible for driving the delivery of new nuclear projects, with the aim of increasing the share of nuclear in the UK's electricity mix from the current 15% to 25% by 2050. GBN will be based in or around the Greater Manchester area and operate through British Nuclear Fuels Limited. It will initially be led by Simon Bowen as interim Chair and Gwen Parry-Jones as interim CEO.

"The first priority for GBN is to launch a competitive process to select the best small modular reactor (SMR) technologies," the paper said. "This will commence in April with market engagement as the first phase. The second phase – the down-selection process - will be launched in the summer, with an ambition to assess and decide on the leading technologies by Autumn. We will co-fund the selected technologies through their development and will work with successful bidders on ensuring the right financing and site arrangements are in place, in line with our commitment to take two Final Investment Decisions in the next parliament.

"The government has also launched the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund of up to GBP120 million to provide targeted support for new nuclear to address barriers to entry and will announce a shortlist of applications to begin pre-grant award due-diligence soon."

The government noted that nuclear energy has been used "reliably and safely" in the UK for more than 60 years and "we have extensive experience of the full nuclear life cycle, from front-end design through to decommissioning". It added: "We are matching the global competition and scaling-up our nuclear programme by having launched GBN, responsible for driving delivery of new nuclear projects, backed with the funding it needs."

The policy paper says the government wants UK companies to "continue playing a key role in green supply chains, from nuclear to CCUS and electric vehicles. For example, nuclear power station Hinkley Point C has spent over GBP4.1 billion with suppliers in the Southwest to date and EDF anticipate that 64% of the construction value of the project will be spent with UK firms, with over 22,000 people nationwide currently working on the project".

"We're driving forward plans to boost renewables, revive nuclear and build new thriving industries like carbon capture, which will in turn create good jobs across the country, provide new opportunities for British businesses at home and abroad, and maintain our world-leading action to reach net-zero," said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: "Great British Nuclear will transform the way nuclear projects are deployed in the UK, enabling us to deliver more capacity more quickly. It will help us become a global leader in large and small scale nuclear, with the SMR selection process offering a real opportunity for home-grown technologies and others to bring jobs, skills and investment to the UK."

He added: "For nuclear to provide a quarter of Britain's electricity means embarking on an ambitious new build programme, including a fleet of new stations, as well as placing nuclear on par with other green technologies to drive crucial investment. More nuclear will cut gas imports, cut carbon and create good jobs for communities all across the country."

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

Polish-US nuclear cooperation expands to USNC microreactors

31 March 2023

Grupa Azoty Police, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation and the West Pomeranian University of Technology have signed an agreement to build a nuclear energy research facility based on Ultra Safe Nuclear's Micro-Modular Reactor (MMR) technology. Meanwhile, Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, Westinghouse and Bechtel expect to soon sign a contract for the design of Poland's first large-scale reactor.

The signing of the agreement between Grupa Azoty Police, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) and the West Pomeranian University of Technology (Image: Grupa Azoty)

Polish chemicals producer Grupa Azoty Police, the USA's Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) and the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin agreed on 29 March to develop and construct a research facility based on USNC's MMR at Police, a town in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northwestern Poland. Over the next six months, the parties will prepare a comprehensive research programme and will jointly develop a plan for the construction, operation and maintenance of the MMR.

The first stage of the collaborative project will consist of the construction of a 30 MWt MMR to serve as a training, research and test facility. It will be connected to the existing energy infrastructure of Grupa Azoty Police, providing a unique opportunity to study, test, optimise and integrate the MMR as a zero-carbon generation source into an industrial plant.

The collaboration will ultimately lead to the development of a plan for full-scale use of nuclear energy to power chemical processes and to generate steam and hydrogen at Grupa Azoty Police's plant.

"The Grupa Azoty Group's strategy for 2021-2030, with its flagship Green Azoty project, targets new renewable capacities totalling nearly 380 MW across the group by 2030," noted Tomasz Hinc, CEO and President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty. "In our strategic plan, we have also communicated entry into the segments of wind power and small nuclear sources, including MMRs, which will provide us with additional megawatts of zero-carbon energy.

"The tripartite agreement signed today at the Szczecin Province Office is paving the way for the Grupa Azoty Group to successfully deploy the 4th Generation MMR technology at our sites by the end of the period covered by our current strategy, that is by 2030. Seeking to make the fastest possible transition towards climate neutrality, clean energy and diversified energy sources, we want to agree on the detailed framework of our cooperation within the next six months."

"Deploying our high-temperature nuclear batteries with Grupa Azoty and the West Pomeranian University of Technology opens the path for decarbonisation and the development of modern nuclear infrastructure and workforce in Poland and exemplifies US support of Poland's national energy independence," said USNC CEO and founder Francesco Venneri. "Together with our partner Hyundai Engineering Corporation, we fully support Grupa Azoty's plans to reduce CO2 emissions and we are glad to offer the West Pomeranian University the possibility of research in the area of our high-temperature nuclear batteries."

USNC's MMR is a 15 MW thermal, 5 MW electrical high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, drawing on operational experience from reactors developed by China, Germany, Japan and the USA. It consists of two plants: the nuclear plant that generates heat, and the adjacent power plant that converts heat into electricity or provides process heat for industrial applications. The USNC system is designed to be simple, with minimal operation and maintenance requirements, and no on-site fuel storage, handling or processing. The MMR uses TRISO fuel in prismatic graphite blocks and has a sealed transportable core.

The MMR is at an advanced licensing stage at the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's Chalk River Laboratories campus in Ontario. The project is a collaboration between USNC and Ontario Power Generation through the jointly owned Global First Power Limited Partnership.

The project at Police joins the growing list of global training, test, and research MMR projects at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the USA, McMaster University in Canada and Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland.

Plans for large-scale plant progresses

Poland's Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) and the USA's Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel Corporation have held talks about enhancing cooperation in the project for the first nuclear power plant in Poland.

The talks were attended by the acting President of PEJ Łukasz Młynarkiewicz, President of Energy Systems at Westinghouse David Durham, Vice President and CEO of Bechtel Craig Albert and John Howanitz, President of the Nuclear Energy, Safety and Environment segment at Bechtel.

"In the near future, it is planned to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between PEJ, Westinghouse and Bechtel, which will allow to formalise the selected model of cooperation in the form of a consortium," PEJ said. "Such a model of cooperation, preferred by Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe from the beginning, will be applied already at the stage of the next contract, planned later this year, i.e. the contract for engineering services, covering the first stage of work on the detailed technical design of the power plant in Pomerania.

"Signing the contract with the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium will allow us to use the unique competences and experience gained during the construction of two AP 1000 reactors in the USA, which is now being finalised."

In September 2021, it was announced that six large pressurised water reactors with a combined installed capacity of 6-9 GWe could be built by 2040 as part of Poland's plan to reduce its reliance on coal. According to the adopted schedule, the construction of the first nuclear power plant will start in 2026, with the first reactor, with a capacity of 1-1.6 GWe, being commissioned in 2033. Subsequent units will be implemented every 2-3 years.

In November 2022, the Polish government selected Westinghouse for the country's first nuclear power plant. In February this year, PEJ and Westinghouse signed a contract commencing joint activities that will lead to the preparation of the design of the first nuclear power plant in Poland.

Meanwhile, Poland's ZE PAK, Polska Grupa Energetyczna and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power have signed a letter of intent to cooperate on a nuclear power plant project in Patnow, in central Poland, assessing the viability of building South Korean APR1400 reactors on the site.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News