The CNSC’s Approach to Regulatory Collaboration for Small Modular Reactors

Abstract

For the first time since the construction of Canada’s current CANDU fleet of nuclear power plants, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) will be reviewing an application for a licence to construct a new nuclear reactor. Small modular reactor (SMR) deployment in Canada has moved from hypothetical towards reality with SMRs and advanced technologies being considered across Canada at unprecedented levels, including SMR projects in the provinces of Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan. The SMR design selected by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300, is also being considered by other jurisdictions, which provides a unique opportunity to further practice regulatory collaboration.

The CNSC has been preparing for the regulation, including licensing, of SMRs for over a decade and is continuing to invest efforts towards readiness activities. One of the key readiness activities is leveraging memoranda of cooperation (MOC) with both the United States (US) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and United Kingdom (UK) Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR). Regulatory collaboration with other experienced regulators should enable the CNSC to gain efficiencies in conducting upcoming licence application reviews, by conducting joint reviews, harmonizing codes and standards, and sharing regulatory research outcomes and lessons learned.