Contributions to the Canadian Economy
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Canadian Energy Research Institute The Canadian Nuclear Industry: Contributions to the Canadian Economy Govinda Timilsina Thorn Walden Paul Kralovic Asghar Shahmoradi Abbas Naini David McColl Phil Prince Jon Rozhon Final Report Prepared for Canadian Nuclear Association Ottawa, Ontario June 2008 THE CANADIAN NUCLEAR INDUSTRY: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CANADIAN ECONOMY The Canadian Nuclear Industry: Contributions to the Canadian Economy Copyright © Canadian Energy Research Institute, 2008 Sections of this study may be reproduced in magazines and newspapers with acknowledgement to the Canadian Energy Research Institute. Authors: Govinda Timilsina Thorn Walden Paul Kralovic Asghar Shahmoradi Abbas Naini David McColl Phil Prince Jon Rozhon CANADIAN ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE #150, 3512 – 33 STREET NW CALGARY, ALBERTA CANADA T2L 2A6 TELEPHONE: 403-282-1231 June 2008 Printed in Canada Canadian Energy Research Institute i TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES...........................................................................................................iv LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................. V EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................................vi A. Introduction.............................................................................................................vi B. Canadian Nuclear Development .................................................................................vi C. The Nuclear Industry’s Economic Impact on the Canadian Economy ............................vii D. The Risks of Nuclear Development........................................................................... viii E. Economic Conclusions on Future Nuclear R&D ............................................................ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Objective and Scope of the Study .............................................................................. 1 1.3 Methodology............................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Organization of the Report ........................................................................................ 2 CHAPTER 2 THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IN CANADA ........................................................4 2.1 The Nuclear Industry in Canada................................................................................. 4 2.2 Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) ................................................................... 6 2.3 Nuclear Reactors in Canada....................................................................................... 7 2.4 Safety and Environmental Issues ............................................................................... 8 2.4.1 Canadian Regulations for Nuclear Power Plants ............................................... 8 2.4.2 Regulations on Spent Fuel and Waste............................................................. 8 2.4.3 Nuclear Power Related Fatalities .................................................................... 9 2.4.4 Terrorism Threats to Nuclear Power ............................................................. 12 2.4.5 Environmental Issues Related to Nuclear Power ............................................ 13 CHAPTER 3 WORLD AND CANADIAN NUCLEAR POWER ..............................................15 3.1 World Nuclear Power .............................................................................................. 15 3.2 World Uranium Consumption................................................................................... 20 3.3 Nuclear Electricity in Canada ................................................................................... 22 3.3.1 Provincial Nuclear Power Capacity................................................................ 25 3.4 Nuclear Power Generation and Uranium Consumption ............................................... 28 CHAPTER 4 OTHER NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES IN CANADA................................................31 4.1 The Uranium Mining Industry in Canada................................................................... 31 4.2 Uranium Refining, Conversion and Enrichment.......................................................... 33 4.3 Other Nuclear Products........................................................................................... 34 4.3.1 Medical Isotopes ........................................................................................ 35 4.3.2 Electron Beam Technology .......................................................................... 36 4.3.3 Neutron Radiography.................................................................................. 36 4.3.4 Food Irradiation.......................................................................................... 36 4.3.5 Insect Sterilization ...................................................................................... 37 4.3.6 Common Uses of Nuclear Products............................................................... 37 4.4 Potential Applications — Hydrogen/Desalination........................................................ 37 June 2008 ii The Canadian Nuclear Industry: Contributions to the Canadian Economy CHAPTER 5 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IN CANADA ................39 5.1 The Input-Output Model ......................................................................................... 39 5.1.1 Background................................................................................................ 39 5.1.2 The I-O Model Used in This Study................................................................ 40 5.2 Input Data............................................................................................................. 43 5.2.1 Input Data for the Assessment of Economic Impact of Nuclear Reactor Construction............................................................................................... 43 5.2.2 Input Data for the Assessment of Economic Impact of Nuclear Power Generation................................................................................................. 43 5.2.3 Input Data for the Assessment of Economic Impact of Nuclear Reactor Exports.......................................................................................... 46 5.2.4 Input Data for the Assessment of Economic Impact of Uranium Mining and Milling....................................................................................... 47 5.3 Impact on GDP ...................................................................................................... 48 5.3.1 Impact on GDP of Nuclear Reactor Construction............................................ 48 5.3.2 Impact on GDP of Nuclear Power Generation ................................................ 50 5.3.3 Impact on GDP of Nuclear Reactor Exports ................................................... 51 5.3.4 Impact on GDP of Uranium Exports.............................................................. 52 5.4 Impact on Canadian Employment ............................................................................ 53 5.4.1 Impact on Canadian Employment of Nuclear Reactor Construction.................. 53 5.4.2 Impact on Canadian Employment of Nuclear Power Generation ...................... 55 5.4.3 Impact on Canadian Employment of Nuclear Reactor Exports ......................... 56 5.4.4 Impact on Canadian Employment of Uranium Exports.................................... 57 5.5 Impact on Federal and Provincial Government Revenue............................................. 58 5.5.1 Impact on Government Revenue of Nuclear Power Construction..................... 58 5.5.2 Impact on Government Revenue of Nuclear Power Generation ....................... 58 5.5.3 Impact on Government Revenue of Nuclear Reactor Exports .......................... 59 5.5.4 Impact on Government Revenue of Uranium Exports..................................... 59 CHAPTER 6 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY ...............................................................................................60 6.1 Main R&D Sponsors................................................................................................ 60 6.2 Nuclear Research Facilities ...................................................................................... 63 6.2.1 Research Reactors...................................................................................... 63 6.2.2 Other Research Facilities ............................................................................. 65 6.3 Research and Development on Nuclear Energy ......................................................... 67 6.3.1 AECL ......................................................................................................... 67 6.3.2 Nuclear Power Companies and the CANDU Owners Group.............................. 68 6.3.3 Universities ................................................................................................ 69 6.4 Research and Development on Nuclear Medicine....................................................... 70 6.4.1 AECL ......................................................................................................... 70 6.4.2 NRC 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