Originally post via the Lucknow Sentinel.
At the October virtual meeting of the South Bruce Community Liaison Committee (CLC), the community and committee members received an educational presentation from Megan Moore.
Moore is an Operations Research Analyst at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), which is Canada’s largest science and technology laboratory. She contributes to many projects which look at the potential impacts of Small Modular Reactors, also known as SMRs.
In 2016, Moore was one of the lead scientists working on the Feasibility Study on Recycling CANDU Fuel. Her presentation at the CLC meeting on the 8th of October looked at the results of that study and some of the challenges that were identified.
At the outset, Moore explained that the study took place in response to a request from the Ontario Ministry of Energy.
She provided a breakdown of what components make up used CANDU fuel, and then outlined the three options for fuel recycling that were analyzed in the study – recycle it back into CANDU reactors, recycle it into large sodium-cooled fast reactors, or recycle it into small metalfuelled burner fast reactors.
The evaluation criteria that were used for the analysis were also presented; they fell into eight categories: environmental, safety and licensing, sustainability, non-proliferation, community and social considerations, costs, waste disposal, and economic impact.
Some of the main challenges that Moore showed in the results of the study were in regards to the costs associated with the reprocessing. Additionally, the study concluded that the requirement for further technology development, as well as safety and security guidelines for fuel reprocessing is still needed.
Following her presentation, questions were asked by several CLC members. Member Brian Knox inquired as to who funds the CNL. Moore responded that the CNL is currently government owned and contract operated; in short, the government owns the facilities, but the employees work for the contractors.
Viewers from the public – of which there were approximately 34 who joined via Zoom – were also able to ask questions, using a virtual Q & A function.
One viewer asked if there was scope for cooperating with France – which has been recycling used fuel for decades – in order to ramp up recycling in Canada.
Moore stated that this would certainly be possible, and there would be an interest in collaborating internationally if recycling was pursued here even though there are some differences in our fuel composition.
Another community member asked Moore if she believed that in several decades technology would allow for the recycling of most of the waste in a Deep Geological Repository (DGR), and if so, would the cost of constructing a DGR still be worthwhile.
Moore acknowledged that there is certainly the opportunity to recycle in the future and she recognizes that the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is planning to ensure that the nuclear waste in a DGR will be retrievable.
“However, we will still need a DGR at the end if we are recycling or not,” remarked Moore. She added that the establishment of a DGR would thus still be worthwhile in her opinion.
The slideshow used during Moore’s presentation can be found online in the CLC’s October Agenda package online at http://clcinfo.ca/southbruce/meetings/.
Each month, the CLC welcomes educational presentations at their meetings, to discuss particular subject matter and offer their knowledge in relation to the Nuclear Waste NWMO’s Adaptive Phased Management site selection process.
The November meeting of the CLC will welcome Dr. Gordon Edwards. He is a mathematician by career, and was an adjunct Professor of Science and Human Affairs at Concordia University. Dr. Edwards has been active on issues surrounding radioactive waste for over 45 years. He has given workshops around the world on this subject and has presented to other CLC’s previously. This meeting will be held November 5th at 7:00 PM via Zoom and over phone.