Operating nuclear power plants
Nuclear power plants have been producing electricity commercially in Canada since the early 1960s and produce about 15% of Canada’s electricity.
Nuclear power plants
Four facilities in Ontario and New Brunswick house 14 operating nuclear power reactors. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has a team of experts and inspectors to ensure that careful oversight of plant operations is maintained. These measures protect the public and the environment.
The nuclear power plants and their locations include:
- Bruce A and B Nuclear Generating Stations, Ontario
- Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, Ontario
- Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, Ontario
- Point Lepreau Generating Station, New Brunswick
- Gentilly-2 Nuclear Facility, Quebec (decommissioning)
All operating nuclear power reactors in Canada are CANDU (Canadian Deuterium-Uranium) reactors. These pressurized heavy water reactors use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as a coolant and moderator.
The Darlington New Nuclear Project is a proposed nuclear power plant at the Darlington site location. It is a boiling water reactor that uses low enriched uranium as fuel, and light water as a coolant and moderator.
Licensing process
CNSC licensing of plants is comprehensive and covers 14 separate topics referred to as safety and control areas, including:
- radiation protection
- emergency preparedness
- environmental protection
- equipment fitness for service
CNSC staff assess licence applications to ensure that safety measures are technically and scientifically sound. CNSC staff also ensure that all requirements are met, and that the appropriate safety systems are in place to protect people and the environment.
The licensing process offers important opportunities for public participation. These include Commission hearings and community meetings that are open to the public and streamed live.
After a licence is issued
The CNSC carefully evaluates compliance after a licence is issued. CNSC staff include a team of onsite inspectors and staff with specific technical expertise. They regularly visit plants to check that operators are meeting the regulatory requirements and licence conditions.
The CNSC carefully reviews any items that do not comply and follows up to ensure all items are corrected. An annual regulatory oversight report (ROR) for Canadian nuclear power plants is published annually. It provides a comprehensive assessment of the safety performance and regulatory compliance of all nuclear power plants in Canada.
Collaboration
The CNSC collaborates with international partners, including the International Atomic Energy Agency. We publish a comprehensive report as part of the Convention on Nuclear Safety every 3 years. This follows up on our commitment to maintain a high level of safety at all nuclear power plants.
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