On this episode of the Discover Moose Jaw News Podcast, Gordon Edgar interviews Mike Crabtree, president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Research Council, which is poised to develop the world’s first practical application of a nuclear microreactor. 

“SRC is focused on ... microreactors. We’re looking to try and bring in a first-of-its-kind microreactor into the province before the end of the decade,” Crabtree explained.  

In November 2023, the province of Saskatchewan announced $80 million in funding for the Saskatchewan Research Council to pursue a microreactor demonstration in collaboration with Westinghouse Electric Company.  

The news was announced shortly after world uranium mining giant Cameco — headquartered in Saskatoon — partnered with Brookfield Investments to acquire Westinghouse. Westinghouse Electric is one of the largest nuclear services companies there is and is working to develop the eVinci microreactor. 

“We particularly like the eVinci reactor because of its (flexible) characteristics. Essentially, it’s a transportable nuclear battery,” Crabtree said. 

“So, ultimately when these go commercial within the province, in Canada, and globally, they would be built in the factory, transported to the operating site, operate for between 8 and 10 years at full power, and then transported ... to a site for defueling and refueling.” 

The reactor would generate enough power over those 10 years to avoid the equivalent consumption of about 1.3 million barrels of diesel fuel. The amount of nuclear waste produced in that 10 years is about half a hockey net’s worth. 

On June 17, SaskPower also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cameco and Westinghouse for its own work on full-size, grid-scale nuclear power plants, including possible work the fuel supply chain. 

The combination of uranium production, R&D expertise, and important partnerships means Saskatchewan could potentially be positioned to lead the entire world into the Net Zero future. 

Public misperception surrounding nuclear power is still one of the biggest obstacles to overcome, Crabtree noted. 

“There’s a couple of things to think about with this regulatory process,” he said. “The regulatory process encompasses all the sorts of things that you would expect it to, like the environmental assessments, assessments of the technology, assessment of the site. 

“But it also encompasses probably the most difficult part of engaging nuclear in any jurisdiction, and that is public acceptance and engagement.” 

Listen to the full interview to learn about what a microreactor looks like, how it is fueled and defueled, its many potential uses, how microreactor research and development could affect Saskatchewan’s economic future, why nuclear baseline power fits perfectly alongside solutions like wind and solar, and more.