TORONTO, ONTARIO — (Marketwired) — 10/07/13 — Canada–s leading nuclear specialists will be discussing the impact of global nuclear trends on Canadian nuclear-related industries, many of whom are found in Ontario – Canada–s traditional nuclear powerhouse. The inaugural Future of Nuclear Conference is being held in Toronto on Wednesday, October 9, 2013, at MaRS Discovery District.
The nuclear conversation is currently top of mind with aging nuclear facilities facing refurbishment, replacement or even closure, and as a Long Term Energy Plan Review is being undertaken by the Government of Ontario. “With 55 per cent of Ontario–s energy being generated by nuclear, and given the province–s commitment to clean-air sources of energy, nuclear cannot be ignored as a vital part of Ontario–s energy mix,” says Ron Lewis, vice president, Nuclear Power Plant Business and Project Development, Westinghouse Electric Company. “Choosing new builds will create jobs here in Canada, and also will create opportunities to bring Canadian companies into global supply chains that are increasingly focused on serving new builds in China, India, the United Arab Emirates and other nations.”
Moderated by Krista Hill, co-head, Infrastructure and Energy Practice at Torys LLP, the panel will discuss an overall global trend toward new nuclear even as some Western nations attempt a move in the other direction. With an historical Canadian reputation for excellence in nuclear science, research and engineering, what do these trends mean for the home team? What do they mean for Canadian communities, businesses and industry? These questions and numerous others around opportunities for Canadian companies, academics and researchers to position themselves in an Asia-facing marketplace will be discussed by nuclear energy industry panelists, including Lewis.
“This conference takes a global long view of nuclear science and energy and then attempts to position where we are in that long view,” explains Conference Chair Henry Vehovec, adjunct professor at University of Toronto and president of Mindfirst Inc. “If you think about automobiles and what the Model T did for oil as part of the global energy mix, we are now at a similar stage where improving and changing reactor designs can have a tremendous impact on how nuclear energy can be deployed globally.”
Other conference guests, speakers and panelists include: Tom Mitchell, president and chief executive officer, Ontario Power Generation (OPG); Cedric Jobe, director, Nuclear Supply, Ontario Ministry of Energy; Ron Oberth, president, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries; Dr. Greg Rzentkowski, director general, Power Reactor Regulation, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC); and Dr. John Luxat, professor and NSERC/UNENE Senior Industrial Research Chair in Nuclear Safety Analysis, McMaster University.
“Canada has spent more than a generation developing nuclear energy, dating back to the 1950s right here in Ontario. The Province has an industrial base that depends on further build-out. On balance, nuclear is the best choice for jobs and the environment. The alternative is a move to high-cost electricity generation and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which are unavoidable if nuclear is not a part of Ontario–s future energy mix,” Lewis says.
About Westinghouse Electric Company:
Westinghouse Electric Company (), a group company of Toshiba Corporation () (TKY: 6502), is the world–s pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Eight of its AP1000 units are currently under construction worldwide, with four units each in the United States and in China. Construction on the first of eight additional units in China is scheduled to begin within the next six months. The AP1000 plant is the only Generation III+ plant to receive design certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and it has completed Phase 2 of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Pre-Project Design Review.
About AP1000:
AP1000 is a trademark or registered trademark of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, its affiliates and/or its subsidiaries in the United States of America and may be registered in other countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
About Future of Nuclear:
Organized by Mindfirst Inc., the first annual Future of Nuclear Conference was convened to provide an unbiased, objective platform for informed discussion of important energy issues to encourage the deployment of better, sustainable decisions throughout the industry ().
Contacts:
For further information and
media accreditation please contact:
Lowell Hall
Metropolis Agencies
(416) 887-1636
Nadia Sandhu
Metropolis Agencies
(647) 907-0171
Westinghouse U.S. Contact:
Ron Hudok
Westinghouse Communications
1-412-374-2613