NWMO Vice-President and Chief Engineer Chris Boyle addresses vendors at the NWMO Discovery and Demonstration Centre. (CNW Group/Nuclear Waste Management Organization)
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has named the five companies selected to work with the organization to design and plan Canada’s deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel in northwestern Ontario. Working on the project will be WSP Canada Inc., Peter Kiewit Sons ULC (Kiewit), Hatch Ltd., Thyssen Mining Construction of Canada Ltd. and Kinectrics Inc.
Last November, the NWMO chose Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace to move forward in the process as host communities for Canada’s deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel.
While Canada’s used nuclear fuel is safely managed in interim storage at reactor and laboratory sites, NWMO explained that this approach is not appropriate over the long term, so the aim will be to build a deep geological repository that uses a series of engineered and natural barriers that work together to contain and isolate used nuclear fuel between 650 and 800 metres underground.
The five companies selected will work on facility infrastructure design and engineering, mine design, mine construction planning, nuclear management advising, and nuclear systems and facilities design. NWMO says construction will only begin once the deep geological repository has successfully completed the federal government’s multi-year regulatory process and an Indigenous-led regulatory assessment and approval process, which will be developed and implemented by Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
The NWMO is using an Integrated Project Delivery model to design and build the repository. The companies and the NWMO will work as one team, co-located to move the project forward.
“The NWMO is proud to engage with five experienced and respected companies to design and plan Canada’s deep geological repository, and we’re excited to work with them to move toward our goal of containing and isolating Canada’s used nuclear fuel,” said NWMO president and CEO Laurie Swami. “While this is a unique project in Canada, the core needs are well established, and the companies chosen have deep experience in mining, construction design and the handling of nuclear materials.”
“Creating a solution for used fuel storage will enable the pursuit of greater nuclear energy production in Canada, a key resource in driving the energy transition,” said Karen Fritz, senior vice-president, Nuclear Market Leader, WSP in Canada.
“We look forward to the opportunity to work with our project partners to deliver this invaluable project, an important step forward for Canada’s current and future nuclear energy production,” added Marie-Claude Dumas, president of WSP in Canada.
WSP will be responsible for all architectural design and engineering for the project, excluding the engineering and design related to mine and waste rock pile design, shafts, headframes and hoisting design and the used fuel packaging plant.
Kiewit will handle all above-ground construction design required to build the deep geological repository, while Hatch will navigate all aspects of the project related to underground mine and waste rock management, as well as shaft, headframe and hoisting systems related to the design and construction of the deep geological repository. Hatch will also handle details related to nuclear facilities and the used fuel packaging plant.
Thyssen Mining will be responsible for the underground mine construction design of the service, test and demonstration area, as well as the sinking of three shafts into the repository.
And Kinectrics will be responsible for in-depth nuclear operations management expertise and advice to inform the development and planning of the project, design, oversight and assurance framework and quality assurance programs.
“Kiewit is proud to be joining industry leaders for this first-of-its-kind project in the country. We are excited to bring our expertise to this project’s collaborative model, which will benefit Canada and local communities for generations to come,” stated Patrick Lamarre, president of Kiewit Canada Group.