Modular nuclear reactors: Pabineau distances himself from ARC Clean Technology

In September 2023, seven Mi’kmaw communities announced they would partner with ARC Clean Technology. However, following troubling signals from the company, they are now looking elsewhere, according to the chief of one of those communities.

ARC to make sure we have something”,”text”:”What we’re looking at is technology in Ontario, elsewhere from ARC to make sure we have something”}}”>The rest of us, what we are looking at is a technology in Ontario, elsewhere ARC to make sure we have somethingnoted Terry Richardsonfrom the Pabineau First Nation.

But the September agreement will not go further, the chief explains. First Nations had the opportunity to invest more in ARC Clean Technologybut they ultimately didn’t.

We are lucky not to have investedhe says now. We were invested in [le projet]but we didn’t invest any money.

This week, the ceo d’ARC Clean Technology announced that he was stepping down. The company also said realign its staff. In the meantime, the management of the Saint-Jean company will be ensured by an executive from the company’s American team.

Some see these as signs that the company, which must deliver a nuclear reactor by 2030, is going through a period of turbulence.

Terry Richardson is annoyed at not having any news about what is happening at ARC.

I don’t invest in a company that doesn’t give me any news. They don’t talk to the rest of us.

In a statement sent to CBC earlier this week, the Prime Minister’s team Blaine Higgs indicated that she was not informed of the changes at ARC.

The province of New Brunswick has invested $20 million in ARC Clean Technology to produce a modular nuclear reactor by 2030.

The province is also counting on Moltex, a second company also located in Saint-Jean, to deliver another reactor by 2029.

These reactors are the cornerstone of New Brunswick’s energy strategy to ensure clean electricity production in New Brunswick starting in 2030.

At the same time, the former Minister of Energy, Mike Hollandbelieved that the development of these reactors in Saint-Jean was an opportunity to build a nuclear industry in New Brunswick.

ARC Clean Technology and the New Brunswick Department of Energy both did not respond to Radio-Canada’s requests for interviews and comment this week.

Mike Holland announced his surprise resignation on June 20 to transition to the private sector.

Another old ceo reacts

Voices were raised this week for NB Power and the province to consider doing business with another company to ensure the supply of a small reactor by 2030.

Among them there are Norm Sawyeranother old CEO d’ARCnow consultant at the head ofION Nuclear Consulting.

NB must think about the question and say to himself: If I need electricity on this date, what is the highest probability I can have if I want the reactor ready? It is obvious that some technologies will be available much more quickly than others.”,”text”:”Strategically, NB Power needs to think about this and say: if I need electricity on this date, what is the highest probability I can have if I want the reactor ready? It is obvious that some technologies will be available much more quickly than others.”}}”>Strategically, NB Power needs to think about this and say: If I need electricity on this date, what is the highest probability I can have if I want the reactor to be ready? Obviously, some technologies will be available much more quickly than others.

I think it might be time to do that, if 2030 is indeed a critical date.

He ensures that his analysis is based on his expertise, and not on internal information about what is happening at ARC.

New Brunswick Liberal MLA René Legacy believes that while buying in New Brunswick is an ideal, it is time for the province to explore other options than ARC and Moltex. I never thought we had to limit ourselves to two technologies.

We’re going to need the megawatts by 2030, we’re going to have to find them somewhere else.

Terry Richardson goes in the same direction. According to him, the province could find better options.

Does the Prime Minister want to give more money to ARC or does he want to move towards another technology that has already been proven and is already more advanced?

David Coonthe leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick, has never been a fan of modular reactors, which he finds too expensive.

However, NB continues to bet on a nuclear future, it will have to buy nuclear technology from outside the province. It is just an illusion in New Brunswick to establish a nuclear industry”,”text”:”if ÉnergieNB continues to bet on a nuclear future, it will have to buy nuclear technology from outside the province. It is just an illusion in New Brunswick to establish a nuclear industry”}}”>If NB Power continues to bet on a nuclear future, it will have to buy nuclear technology from outside the province. It is just an illusion in New Brunswick to establish a nuclear industryaccording to him.

Asked Tuesday whether she was still confident of having a reactor fromARC by 2030, the ceo NB Energy, Lori Clarkdid not respond directly.

2030, and we are confident that we will have them.”,”text”:”Our integrated resource plan tells us that we need modular nuclear reactors by the early 2030s, and we are confident that we will have them.”}}”>Our integrated resource plan tells us that we need modular nuclear reactors by the early 2030s, and we are confident that we will have them.

With information from Jacques Poitras (CBC)