Canada and the UK Sign MOU to Extend Nuclear Cooperation

World Nuclear News reported that Canada and the UK have signed a memorandum of understanding which called for increased cooperation through the nuclear fuel cycle including uranium supply, reactor design, construction, operation and decommissioning.

As quoted  in the market news:

The MOU between Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the UK’s Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was signed by the high commissioner for Canada to the UK, Gordon Campbell, and Lee McDonough, director of DECC’s office for nuclear development.

The memorandum follows through on the commitment for increased nuclear energy cooperation that was highlighted in the updated 2014 prime ministerial Canada-UK joint declaration. It encourages and facilitates closer relationships between government agencies, regulatory authorities, academic and financial institutions.

Specifically, the MOU calls for increased cooperation throughout the nuclear fuel cycle, including: uranium supply; reactor design, construction, operation and decommissioning; adaptation of designs to use alternative and advanced fuel cycles that support the safe and proper disposition of legacy material; development of workforce skills through partnerships between academic institutions, suppliers and operators; and, joint research and development prioritization.

In a statement, NRCan said, “The MOU will provide benefits to a wide array of stakeholders in the nuclear energy industry in both Canada and the UK, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, by facilitating stronger industry-to-industry connections and encouraging collaborative work between laboratories and university research networks.”

It added, “The MOU will reinforce work already under way on feasibility studies related to the disposal of UK plutonium, and it will provide a framework to assess the development of power generation based on alternative nuclear fuels.”

Click here to read the full World Nuclear News report.