March 30, 2006

‘Team Candu’ lobbies Ontario to build six nuclear plants for $40B

Province to respond to report by mid-April

TORONTO

Five global firms are combining their lobbying efforts to encourage the Ontario government to build new nuclear plants in the province.

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Babcock & Wilcox Canada, General Electric Canada, Hitachi Canada Ltd. and SNC-Lavalin Nuclear Inc., signed a four-year deal to promote building new Candu 6 reactors in Ontario.

The announcement comes just weeks before the Ontario government is expected to formally respond to a recent report calling for new nuclear power stations in the province to ensure there’s an adequate supply of future electricity.

In a statement, so-called “Team Candu” says they can “deliver a business model for Ontario that they have successfully deployed in other markets around the world over the past decade.”

“Team Candu is strategically aligned to provide Ontario with a clean, safe, economical and reliable base-load option,” the group said in a release.

“Each member of the team has the technical strengths, core expertise and proven track record of delivering a world-class product on time and on budget.”

Environmental groups, including Canadian scientist David Suzuki, want the province to ignore recommendations that the government spend up to $40 billion building or replacing up to 12,400 megawatts of nuclear capacity.

Energy Minister Donna Cansfield denied she’s feeling any pressure by the nuclear industry to commit to building more reactors.

“They may be circling their wagons, but they’re not circling mine,” she said. “They haven’t put any pressure on at all. I guess they’re just doing what they think they should do.”

Cansfield has said that when she announces a formal reaction to the OPA report in mid-April, it will take into account input from stakeholders throughout the energy sector.

Canadian Press

“They may be circling their wagons, but they’re not circling mine.”

Donna Cansfield - Ontario Energy Minister

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