The CNSC agreement establishes a framework for collaboration, enabling Moltex to receive regulatory feedback on safety, security, and safeguards. This ensures compliance with standards throughout the WATSS development process. The framework also facilitates engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to align the WATSS facility and fuel cycle with international obligations and incorporate best practices early in the design.
Moltex recently validated the WATSS process using spent Candu fuel at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and is now advancing the engineering design and safety analysis for a commercial facility. Olivier Gregoire, Moltex Licensing Manager, stated: “We appreciate the opportunity to get early feedback on the design from the CNSC to ensure we are designing a facility that meets the highest standards. Early engagement minimises the risk of late-stage additions to the design which can create needless cost increases. This engagement will streamline site specific licensing.”
Moltex is developing technologies, including the Stable Salt Reactor – Wasteburner (SSR-W), which uses recycled nuclear waste as fuel, the WATSS process for producing new fuel from waste, and GridReserve thermal energy storage tanks to enable the SSR-W to function as a peaking plant. Moltex Energy Canada, partnered with New Brunswick Power, aims to build an SSR-W at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station by 2030, alongside ARC Clean Technology’s ARC-100 project, though both have faced funding challenges.
Rory O’Sullivan, CEO of Moltex Energy Canada, commented: “The key here is we needed to get someone else in control of Moltex Energy Ltd so that we could have a competitive sale process. And the administration process allowed us to do that. … Really, we are just excited to get new owners in place and get back to business.” Last month, Moltex validated its fuel reprocessing technology with Candu fuel bundles, with O’Sullivan noting: “The next stage is preliminary engineering of both, and that’s a much bigger dollar value.”
New Brunswick Power has supported Moltex’s fuel reprocessing efforts and is conducting an environmental impact assessment for the ARC-100, which is under CNSC prelicensing review, targeting design completion by 2027.
