In the recent debate around Canada’s energy strategy, attention has turned to creating a domestic uranium enrichment programme. With the world’s largest number of uranium mines and conversion capacities, Canada is uniquely situated to make this important step. Right now, Canada depends on other countries for the enrichment of uranium, but existing legal limitations prevent any domestic capability. Experts, including Jay Jiang Yu, the executive chairman and president of LIS Technologies, emphasize the urgent need for Canada to develop its own enrichment infrastructure to secure its place in the global nuclear energy landscape.
The impetus for such a domestic enrichment programme comes from an increasing global demand for nuclear energy. In order for any of these projections to be true, the world will have to at least triple its current nuclear energy production by 2050. In order to meet this ambitious target, experts are calling on countries to significantly increase their enrichment capacities. In fact, they believe a tenfold increase is required over the next 25 years. Canada needs to hold onto its dominant position in uranium mining and uranium conversion. Second, it needs to be involved and engaged in the enrichment process.
Canada’s Resources and Capabilities
Canada’s abundant uranium resources, and the fact that it is one of only three Western countries with the technical ability to convert uranium are two prime examples. This conversion process changes the physical properties of mined together in a mined form that is suitable for further enrichment production. The nation has proven itself excellent at producing this feedstock. This expertise makes it uniquely positioned to play a key role in strengthening its role in the nuclear supply chain. Even with these benefits, well-established legal prohibitions force Canada to rely on international actors for enrichment.
The Canadian federal government has taken the lead in understanding that the whole nuclear fuel supply chain should be owned and operated by one custodian. By diversifying its capabilities to include enrichment, Canada hopes to minimize the need for imports and solidify its energy independence. As Jay Jiang Yu reminds us, enrichment on American soil is in the best interests of U.S. national security. Finally, it puts Canada at the forefront of the future global nuclear sector.
Additionally, Canada’s mature nuclear fleet complements this push. Yet the nation continues to operate CANDU reactors, which do not need enriched uranium. This feature enables Canada to focus on driving research towards enriched fuel. It is critical for potential future projects like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which need higher levels of enrichments.
The Path Forward: Challenges and Opportunities
Canada’s journey towards realizing a domestic uranium enrichment capability is an uphill battle, with many hurdles to overcome but just as many prospects to gain. With dozens of new start-ups in the United States building microreactors and SMRs, there is a clear trend towards advanced nuclear technologies. Canada is poised to capitalize on this momentum by constructing its own facilities. This will mean making a dramatic increase from the country’s historical low enrichment level of 5% to the 20-90% enrichment levels needed for advanced reactors.
Cameco, a major player in Canada’s uranium sector, has already taken steps to advance the country’s enrichment capabilities. Via a long-term, strategic alliance with Silex Systems Limited, Cameco owns a 49% share of the Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) project. This partnership is a great demonstration of how Canadian firms are looking at creative new ways to do enrichment technology. Centrifuge enrichment experts across the board agree that Canada could relatively easily transition to centrifuge enrichment. This confidence is based on the country’s current authorship in frequently allied disciplines.
Yet, these breakthroughs will be possible only with significant federal investment and support. This reflects a dramatic shift in recent years by the Canadian government to lead the world in expanding its nuclear energy sector. Specifically, they are spending billions of taxpayer dollars to pursue small modular reactors (SMRs) that will use enriched uranium. This commitment reflects an understanding of the broader energy landscape and the need for a reliable and clean energy source.