Industry Background of Nuclear

Industry Background

The development of power reactors was originally applied for military needs. With the elapse of wartimes and exploitation of nuclear energy, people started to apply power reactors into nuclear power industry. The nuclear power industry suffered some decline and stagnation from the late 1970s to about 2002. The share of nuclear in world electricity was fairly constant at 16-17% since the mid 1980s (Outline History of Nuclear Energy, 2010). However, in the new century, the increased worldwide electricity demand, awareness of the importance of energy security, and the need to limit carbon emissions that due to concern about global warming boost nuclear power industry to revive.

As one of the highest level of electricity use in the world, Canada generated 636 billion kWh in 2011, and of which about 14.3% was from nuclear generation. “According to a study by the Canadian Energy Research Institute, in 2005 Canada’s 18 nuclear reactors sold energy worth almost C$5billion, contributed C$6.3 billion to GDP, and created C$1.4 billion in government revenue” (Nuclear Power in Canada, 2013). Canada is the largest producer of uranium in the world, who has the world’s largest reserves of high-grade low-cost uranium. Most of Canada’s reserves are located in northern Saskatchewan (Natural Resources Canada, 2009).

Saskatchewan is one of the world’s largest producers of uranium, which accounts for one fifth of all uranium production in the world (Mining & Power Generation, 2013). Currently, uranium is mined from the northern Saskatchewan, which is reserved at the Rabbit Lake, McArthur River and McClean Lake area. Also, two additional mines those are Cigar Lake and Midwest are scheduled to begin operations. “With these mines, production capacity should increase to about 16,000 tonnes of uranium annually” (Natural Resources Canada, 2009). Clearly, there is a potential to expand reserves and increase production in the future. According to a study by Bruce Power...