(File photo/Cameco)

By paNOW Staff

Cameco and X-energy enter MOU to support Xe-100 small modular reactors

Sep 16, 2021 | 12:28 PM

Cameco has announced they have began a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to explore possibilities to support potential future use, fuelling and servicing of Xe-100 small modular reactors in Canada and the U.S.

According to a media release, Cameco is one of the largest global uranium suppliers and for three decades have been safely producing uranium and nuclear fuel products to generate electricity at the world’s nuclear reactors.

“We feel very confident about the future of nuclear power and the future of SMRs, here in Canada, in the U.S. and across the globe,” said Cameco president and CEO Tim Gitzel in a media release. “We intend to be a fuel supplier of choice for the emerging SMR and advanced reactor market and look forward to working with X-energy to see what opportunities might exist around their innovative reactor technology.”

“Cameco is a cornerstone of the Canadian nuclear industry and has global reach,” said Pete Pappano, President of TRISO-X, X-energy’s fuel fabrication subsidiary. “As X-energy works to bring the world’s first commercial advanced reactor to market in North America, we look forward to building a fruitful partnership that could provide a steady fuel supply for our technology in North America and support its deployment around the world.”

X-energy was awarded US$1.23 billion under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program by the U.S. Department of Energy. It will be used to license, site, build and operate a nuclear power plant based on the Xe-100 design with Energy Northwest by 2027.

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“In October 2020, Ontario Power Generation Inc. identified the Xe-100 as a potential technology for the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP), which aims to have an SMR in operation as early as 2028,” as written in the release. “X-energy states it is currently advancing the Xe-100 design and engineering work with the utility.”

Based on analysis done for X-energy by Hatch Ltd., they estimate the construction of a TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility in Canada could generate $310 million in economic benefit.

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