Thereport of the Uranium Development Partnership, published online Fridayafternoon, contains 20 recommendations for Saskatchewan's uraniumindustry.(CBC)
A report for the provincial government says a nuclear power plant could be in uranium-rich Saskatchewan's future.
Examining the potential of power generation from uranium was among20 recommendations in a $3-million report on how the province coulddevelop its radioactive resource.
The power plant recommendation was evaluated in what the reportauthors described as a "high-level economic and technical analysis,"which concluded that "nuclear could be a competitive power-generationoption for Saskatchewan."
The report identifies nuclear power as a long-range project andsuggests that Saskatchewan team up with Alberta to consider "a commonpower-generation solution for the two provinces by pooling their powerneeds."
A nuclear power plant was also viewed by the report authors as a generator of economic activity.
"In addition to providing affordable low-carbon electricity for theprovince's residential, commercial, and industrial users, a nuclearpower plant would create 700 to 800 long-term jobs," the report noted.
The report also suggests focusing on further exploration and mining of uranium, as well as more research and development.
The report specifically discourages Saskatchewan from pursuing twovalue-added ventures related to uranium: producing reactor fuel andconverting uranium ore into various subcomponents. Market conditionsmake those activities not worth investing in, the report said.
In releasing the report, Lyle Stewart, the minister responsible forEnterprise Saskatchewan, said public consultations will take placebefore a final policy is announced.
"I can assure you that no decisions have been made," Steward said."The input received will be considered by the provincial government aspart of the decision making process."
The recommendations were released Friday in Saskatoon. The 136-pagereport was prepared by a government-funded panel and has been ingovernment hands since March 31.
Kazakhstan poised to surpass Saskatchewan
Thepanel, chaired by Richard Florizone, the University of Saskatchewan'svice-president of finance, included nuclear science experts, CEOs fromthe nuclear industry, as well as representatives from labour and FirstNations.
The 12-member group also included a co-founder of the activistorganization Greenpeace, Patrick Moore, who is currently associatedwith a consulting firm.
The panel was asked to make specific recommendations on how todevelop Saskatchewan's uranium industry beyond its current focus onmining.
According to the province, Saskatchewan is the world's largestproducer of uranium, with an output of more than 11 million kilogramsof ore per year.
The report recommends Saskatchewan work to ensure its position inthe marketplace is maintained. It says the province should encouragemore exploration, particularly in light of the emergence of significantcompetitors.
"Forecasts indicate that Kazakhstan will overtake Saskatchewan asthe world's largest producer this year — and that Australia couldovertake it next year," the report notes.
Also on Friday, Stewart unveiled the schedule for nine communityconsultation meetings, which would begin on May 19 and end on June 5,2009.