Sask funds nuclear specialist

Saskatchewan funds nuclear specialist for supply chain development of small modular reactors via SIMSA.

By Brian Zinchuk

SASKATOON – As the federal government’s recently released draft Clean Electricity Regulations make coal-fired power, even with carbon capture, all but impossible, and will require almost perfect carbon capture on natural gas-fired power generation. As a result, Saskatchewan’s increasing focus on nuclear power generation is coming to the fore. And to that end, money is starting to be dedicated to that purpose.

The Government of Saskatchewan, through Crown Investments Corporation (CIC) is providing $479,000 to the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA) and its partners to prepare local companies for their future participation in provincial, national and global small modular reactor (SMR) development. The provincial government has been actively partnering with SIMSA for both mining and energy development in recent years.

“Programing and resources made available through this funding are crucial to moving toward building a nuclear industry in Saskatchewan,” Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Don Morgan said in a release on Aug. 24. “Our province has a long successful history of nuclear research and development, and we are a world-class supplier of high-quality uranium ore. Advancing Saskatchewan’s SMR supply chains will unlock economic and job potential for communities near and far, including our rural, northern and remote regions, and Indigenous communities.”

Tom Kishchuk, SIMSA’s new nuclear supply chain specialist. SIMSA

Premier Scott Moe, speaking in Estevan on Aug. 23. He had a lot of questions about nuclear power. Photo by Brian Zinchuk

In the spring of 2022, Morgan had announced Saskatchewan’s intention to build four small modular reactors. But on Aug. 24, he spoke on John Gormley Live about the possibility of up to nine such reactors. And Premier Scott Moe, when questioned about this in Estevan on Aug. 23, told Pipeline Online, “I don’t think that that number certainly hasn’t been decided on, as of yet. But as we look ahead, through the decades, and not the next number of years, but through the decades, you know, we’re embarking down that path with going through the regulatory process on where you may locate and a small modular reactor, and how many you can ultimately locate at that.

“So I want surmise as to what the end number would be of small modular reactors, because there are other are other options, and larger 1,000 megawatt reactors and such. There’s other, options that we have that can play into this as well, with some of the other generation infrastructure that we have,” Moe said.

The two-year funding agreement between CIC and SIMSA, a nonprofit organization representing more than 300 Saskatchewan-based suppliers of the industrial, mining and energy sectors, will support an SMR supply chain specialist position with SIMSA. The funding will also help engage First Nations Power Authority (FNPA) for its assistance to explore Indigenous economic opportunities and enable the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) to deliver its Ready4SMR program to develop local suppliers, including Indigenous-owned companies, the government said.

“SIMSA is excited to work with CIC to build additional resources to enhance the development of qualified nuclear manufacturing and construction companies in our province,” Eric Anderson, executive director of SIMSA said. “One crucial component of this work is the recruitment of an SMR supply chain specialist. The specialist has outstanding nuclear and supply chain experience and knows the current market elements. This position will be an invaluable asset to advance SMR development in Saskatchewan.”

To that end, SIMSA announced it had hired Tom Kishchuk as its nuclear specialist. “SIMSA and its members will now be able to leverage his considerable experience, such as being the former president and CEO of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Canada, as well as the former vice president of Operational Support for Federated Co-operatives Limited,” their release said.

“As SIMSA’s Nuclear Specialist, Tom will maximize the amount of Saskatchewan content for new nuclear development in Canada and globally, especially in Saskatchewan, including but not limited to: Small Modular Reactor component manufacturing and deployment, certified services to the nuclear industry and nuclear fuel manufacturing.”

To assist in this effort, SIMSA has added three broad nuclear headings and several sub-headings to their member database.  With these database enhancements, Governments, technology providers, and procurement functions can quickly identify who is “interested in nuclear” or “becoming accredited” for nuclear work, or “are accredited;” and then explore further to see which SIMSA members may be of interest.

“Tom brings a unique combination of technical and business leadership experience gained during more than 25 years of developing provincial, national and international networks and relationships to support the manufacturing of heavy industrial equipment in Saskatchewan.  Tom has the knowledge and experience to review technology design elements, and then help members assess the risks to their business from participating in the nuclear supply chain. He can also discuss business attraction and regulatory items with major technology providers and governments.

“From 1989 to 2015, Tom was involved in all aspects of a heavy industrial manufacturing business including the design of turbines (steam, gas, hydro) and generators, development, and implementation of management systems (health and safety, environment and quality), advanced manufacturing engineering (turbines, pressure vessels, piping, heat exchangers, wind turbine towers, and nuclear components), and business development for emerging low carbon technologies including nuclear plants. In these roles he travelled frequently to Asia, Europe and within North America for the purpose of supply chain development and technology transfer for heavy industrial equipment manufacturing and servicing,” SIMSA said.

Anderson said, “SIMSA is excited to have the opportunity to work with a person of Tom’s abilities. He portrays an outstanding balance between nuclear and supply chain experience and knows the current market elements. In short, he will be an invaluable asset to SIMSA and its members.  Further, with someone of Tom’s abilities onboard, SIMSA can maintain its traditional work in the mining, energy and industrial sectors, without any distraction.”

“We are proud to partner with CIC, SIMSA and OCNI to advance economic reconciliation with Indigenous owned businesses,” Guy Lonechild, President and CEO, FNPA said. “FNPA will establish a new database to build nuclear capacity and track certifications both provincially and nationally.”

FNPA is the only North American non-profit Indigenous owned and controlled organization developing power projects with Indigenous communities.

“The Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries is proud to be working in Saskatchewan with SIMSA and FNPA to implement our Ready4SMR program,” Bill Walker, president and CEO, OCNI said. “We’d also like to acknowledge and thank the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan for their contribution in making this project possible.  Canada is leading the world in the deployment of small modular reactors and we’re excited to see Saskatchewan planning for SMRs as part of their clean energy mix. Our role is to build a pan-Canadian supply chain that gives provinces like Saskatchewan an opportunity for economic development as your already thriving supplier base considers joining the Canadian nuclear industry.”

OCNI describes itself as the leading voice of the Canadian nuclear supply chain and actively promotes the production of safe, clean, and reliable nuclear base load electricity as a central part of Canada’s balanced electricity generation portfolio. It is an association of more than 200 leading suppliers of the nuclear industry in Canada and the international marketplace.