Initial Focus of Agreement is Promoting the Use of the AP300™ Small Modular Reactor for both Grid-Tied and Dedicated Industrial Applications in New Brunswick, Canada
January 14, 2025 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Westinghouse Electric Company and the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council (NSMTC) today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote the selection and deployment of Westinghouse technology for nuclear new build projects in New Brunswick.
Under the agreement, the initial focus will be on exploring possibilities for the AP300™ small modular reactor (SMR) for both grid power and dedicated industrial purposes. The agreement also covers the investigation of opportunities for the eVinci™ microreactor to serve remote, stand-alone communities and industrial sites such as mines as well as supporting global AP1000® projects.
“The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council knows SMR technologies are an essential part of the future of clean energy,” said Jim Ward, NSMTC General Manager. “This MoU marks an important step toward sustainability for our First Nations youth and communities. By exploring the technologies that Westinghouse brings to the table, we are advancing New Brunswick’s clean energy strategy and creating economic opportunities for our NSMTC Member Nations, and for the province and region as a whole.”
The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council is dedicated to fostering innovation and advancing Indigenous involvement in major projects within Mi’kma’ki. The NSMTC primarily serves seven Member Nations while extending support to 25 additional First Nations across Atlantic Canada. The council provides service delivery, technical support, and capacity-building in water and waste management, housing and infrastructure, post-secondary education funding, training and employment, community development, clean energy opportunities, environmental stewardship, and health service coordination. The NSMTC’s mission is to foster the health, sustainability, and economic prosperity of its Member Nations.
“Westinghouse is proud to work closely with NSMTC to share our industry-leading nuclear technology expertise to support New Brunswick’s clean energy and economic objectives,” said Dan Lipman, President of Westinghouse Energy Systems. “Based on the proven, licensed and operating AP1000 reactor, the AP300 SMR can provide clean, reliable, safe and affordable energy for rate payers, Indigenous communities, and industrial applications in the province.”
“We recognize the importance of having Indigenous rights holders as key decision makers for all new infrastructure projects, and we are committed to deepening our partnership with NSMTC as we work together to explore new build opportunities in New Brunswick,” said John Gorman, President of Westinghouse Canada. “Westinghouse looks forward to a long and fruitful collaboration that will benefit the province, its people and its economy for years to come.”
Owned by Canadian energy powerhouses Brookfield and Cameco, Westinghouse offers the only SMR based on an advanced, large Generation III+ unit already in operation globally – the AP1000 reactor. Unlike every other SMR under development with first-of-a-kind technologies and risks, Westinghouse’s AP300 SMR uses AP1000 engineering, components and supply chain to streamline licensing and leverage available technical skills. These factors provide confidence that the first operating unit will be available in the early 2030s. In addition, the passively safe AP300 SMR requires foundations of only 14 meters in depth, has a compact, safety-related footprint of only 5 square meters per MWe, and has an industry-leading load following capability of 15MWe per minute, making it the perfect complement to a zero-carbon grid with a high percentage of renewable generation.
Westinghouse Electric Company is shaping the future of carbon-free energy by providing safe, innovative nuclear and other clean power technologies and services globally. Westinghouse supplied the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 and the company’s technology is the basis for nearly one-half of the world’s operating nuclear plants. Over 135 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.
The NSMTC is the foremost advocate in Atlantic Canada for Indigenous-led investment in clean, affordable, reliable nuclear energy technologies. The NSMTC envisions a future with New Brunswick as a world leader in clean nuclear energy and the many economic benefits that can be built alongside a thriving nuclear sector: medical isotopes and nuclear medicine, data centers, advanced manufacturing, hydrogen production, indoor agriculture, and research, innovation, and science.
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