Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected to say that Cenovus is looking at the ‘feasibility’ of SMRs in its thermal oil sands operations. It doesn’t have a specific location nor does it have an actual SMR project..It’s all about priorities..On Tuesday, those of Federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson were in Ottawa after he abruptly vacated the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary to hand out $3 billion to Romania to help it buy a pair of CANDU reactors..Which wouldn’t have been so ironic if Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz wasn’t simultaneously announcing plans to introduce small modular reactors (SMRs) into the oil sands back home in Alberta..While Schulz was busy announcing a multi-year feasibility study alongside representatives from Calgary-based Cenovus Energy, Alberta Innovates and Emissions Reduction Alberta to reduce emissions in this country, Wilkinson was congratulating himself for using Canadian tax dollars to reduce Romania’s.."The export financing announced today to support our Romanian partners will support the creation of new good jobs and economic activity in Canada,” he said in a statement that — by coincidence — coincided with Schulz’s..“The new Cernavoda reactors (in Romania) will leverage Canadian CANDU technology to deliver clean and reliable power to communities while contributing to Canada's efforts to support European energy security. Canadian nuclear expertise will continue to play an important role in helping the world accelerate to a clean and secure energy future." .Meanwhile, Cenovus announced it is conducting a $26.7 million feasibility inquiry of its own to explore SMRs at its thermal oil sands operations in northeastern Alberta, including regulatory and engineering studies..To be clear, CANDU reactors are big steam pressurized units. India used one to build an atomic bomb. Small modular reactors, meanwhile are safer and considered to be the future of nuclear technology..If Cenovus eventually decides to move ahead — and there’s a strong likelihood it will — it would mark the first time nuclear power will have been used in Alberta. And it would also make its oil sands production virtually emissions free..That’s because the main source of emissions is from burning natural gas to generate steam, which is pumped underground to loosen thick bitumen deposits enough to make them flow to the surface through special horizontal wells..It’s the kind of announcement federal officials such as Wilkinson would presumably want to be a part of. Instead, after doling out $125 million to Alberta wind and solar developers on Monday, he presumably jetted to Ottawa on a Canadair jet to meet the Romanian energy minister. .He’s scheduled to be back in Calgary to host a Canada-themed barbecue and indoor rodeo at the WPC Tuesday night..For her part, Schulz was unaware he had even left the building until she was informed by The Western Standard at a press event Tuesday..And even though she couldn’t comment on the Romania deal specifically, she agreed it’s the kind of announcement that could have — and should have — been made here..”I've said very publicly that I do sure hope that our federal colleagues can put ideology aside, come to the table and have very real discussions about what's being done here, how we can continue to lead, how we can meet energy demands, but also deliver secure, safe, affordable, reliable energy and be leaders worldwide. So I can't speak to the federal government's announcement,” she said..At the end of the day, Schulz suggested it was a missed opportunity on behalf of Ottawa to share and build on the success Canadian energy has to offer — not just for Alberta and Canada, but the world. Separately, she bemoaned “really bad policy” decisions from her federal counterparts. .“I mean, you know, I think — I really, honestly can't speak to their agenda. And why they would be flying back and forth to Ottawa in a day to make those announcements,” she said. .“I think that this is an exciting time to make announcements. I mean, this is a place where these conversations are happening about everything from hydrogen to methane emissions reduction to small modular reactors to where our energy industry is headed. And so this would be a great opportunity to make any announcements.” .“It's certainly why we chose to have our announcement here today to build on the excitement of the World Petroleum Congress, while we have these leaders from around the world to talk about what we have to offer and the amazing work that's being done here in Alberta and Canada.”
Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected to say that Cenovus is looking at the ‘feasibility’ of SMRs in its thermal oil sands operations. It doesn’t have a specific location nor does it have an actual SMR project..It’s all about priorities..On Tuesday, those of Federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson were in Ottawa after he abruptly vacated the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary to hand out $3 billion to Romania to help it buy a pair of CANDU reactors..Which wouldn’t have been so ironic if Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz wasn’t simultaneously announcing plans to introduce small modular reactors (SMRs) into the oil sands back home in Alberta..While Schulz was busy announcing a multi-year feasibility study alongside representatives from Calgary-based Cenovus Energy, Alberta Innovates and Emissions Reduction Alberta to reduce emissions in this country, Wilkinson was congratulating himself for using Canadian tax dollars to reduce Romania’s.."The export financing announced today to support our Romanian partners will support the creation of new good jobs and economic activity in Canada,” he said in a statement that — by coincidence — coincided with Schulz’s..“The new Cernavoda reactors (in Romania) will leverage Canadian CANDU technology to deliver clean and reliable power to communities while contributing to Canada's efforts to support European energy security. Canadian nuclear expertise will continue to play an important role in helping the world accelerate to a clean and secure energy future." .Meanwhile, Cenovus announced it is conducting a $26.7 million feasibility inquiry of its own to explore SMRs at its thermal oil sands operations in northeastern Alberta, including regulatory and engineering studies..To be clear, CANDU reactors are big steam pressurized units. India used one to build an atomic bomb. Small modular reactors, meanwhile are safer and considered to be the future of nuclear technology..If Cenovus eventually decides to move ahead — and there’s a strong likelihood it will — it would mark the first time nuclear power will have been used in Alberta. And it would also make its oil sands production virtually emissions free..That’s because the main source of emissions is from burning natural gas to generate steam, which is pumped underground to loosen thick bitumen deposits enough to make them flow to the surface through special horizontal wells..It’s the kind of announcement federal officials such as Wilkinson would presumably want to be a part of. Instead, after doling out $125 million to Alberta wind and solar developers on Monday, he presumably jetted to Ottawa on a Canadair jet to meet the Romanian energy minister. .He’s scheduled to be back in Calgary to host a Canada-themed barbecue and indoor rodeo at the WPC Tuesday night..For her part, Schulz was unaware he had even left the building until she was informed by The Western Standard at a press event Tuesday..And even though she couldn’t comment on the Romania deal specifically, she agreed it’s the kind of announcement that could have — and should have — been made here..”I've said very publicly that I do sure hope that our federal colleagues can put ideology aside, come to the table and have very real discussions about what's being done here, how we can continue to lead, how we can meet energy demands, but also deliver secure, safe, affordable, reliable energy and be leaders worldwide. So I can't speak to the federal government's announcement,” she said..At the end of the day, Schulz suggested it was a missed opportunity on behalf of Ottawa to share and build on the success Canadian energy has to offer — not just for Alberta and Canada, but the world. Separately, she bemoaned “really bad policy” decisions from her federal counterparts. .“I mean, you know, I think — I really, honestly can't speak to their agenda. And why they would be flying back and forth to Ottawa in a day to make those announcements,” she said. .“I think that this is an exciting time to make announcements. I mean, this is a place where these conversations are happening about everything from hydrogen to methane emissions reduction to small modular reactors to where our energy industry is headed. And so this would be a great opportunity to make any announcements.” .“It's certainly why we chose to have our announcement here today to build on the excitement of the World Petroleum Congress, while we have these leaders from around the world to talk about what we have to offer and the amazing work that's being done here in Alberta and Canada.”
