The Nuclear Waste Management Organization this week revealed the five companies selected to design and build a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel in northwestern Ontario.
A byproduct of generating nuclear energy is used fuel. While Canada’s used nuclear fuel is safely managed in interim storage at reactor and laboratory sites, this approach is not appropriate over the long term, according to the organization.
Better is the deep geological repository design, which uses a series of engineered and natural barriers that work together to contain and isolate used nuclear fuel between roughly 700 metres underground.
The NWMO, as owner of the project, announced that it will be working with WSP Canada, Peter Kiewit Sons, Hatch, Thyssen Mining Construction of Canada, and Kinectrics.
“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,” stated Laurie Swami, who serves the nonprofit organization as chief executive officer.
WSP will be responsible for much of the architectural design and engineering for the project. Kiewit will handle all above-ground construction design required to build the deep geological repository.
“The Deep Geologic Repository represents an important step forward in Canada’s clean energy future, creating a safe solution for the storage of used nuclear fuel,” believes Marie-Claude Dumas, President of WSP in Canada.
Hatch will be responsible for aspects of the project related to underground mine and waste rock management, as well as for systems related to the design and construction of the deep geological repository.
Thyssen Mining will handle underground mine construction design of test and demonstration area, as well as the sinking of shafts into the repository.
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.
“The repository ensures the protection of the environment for future generations,” said David Harris, CEO of Kinectrics.
The NWMO was founded in 2002.