Early stakeholder engagement for a possible new multipurpose research reactor for Canada

TL;DR

This paper discusses the initial stakeholder engagement process in Canada for considering a new multipurpose research reactor, highlighting the importance of incorporating diverse user input and international perspectives.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic approach to early stakeholder engagement involving virtual workshops with domestic and international nuclear experts.

Findings

Stakeholder input emphasized diverse utilization needs.

International workshops provided global context and best practices.

The approach informs future decision-making for reactor development.

Abstract

Canada has a rich history of nuclear technology development. Since the 1940s, nuclear research infrastructure and facilities, such as National Research Universal (NRU) reactor at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in Chalk River, Ontario, have played a key role for R&D and for building Canadian expertise and competency in nuclear technology. The NRU reactor retired in 2018. Since the needs of stakeholders vary with time, consideration of a new multipurpose research reactor for Canada must contemplate current user input for their requirements. As an early step in such consideration, a systematic approach was employed to engage various national stakeholders from academia, industry, and research organizations, including the government. Several virtual workshops were held, each with a specific theme around utilizations. To provide international context, our workshops also included presentations from leading nuclear laboratories around the world. We provide a summary of Canada's approach and the main findings of this early stakeholder engagement.