U.S. DOE, Canadian Dept. of Natural Resources to collaborate on nuclear energy

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Canadian Department of Natural Resources said they intend to collaborate on nuclear energy and technology.

The statement, issued during U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent meeting in Ottawa, Canada, affirms the two countries’ intention to work together in light of the current global challenges the two countries face. The war in Ukraine and its impact on energy resources, as well as the increasing impact of climate change around the world, have accelerated the need to alter the energy landscape and increase the need for collaboration around nuclear energy, the countries said in a statement.

“Nuclear power provides affordable low carbon energy while contributing to the security of energy supply as a reliable, clean energy source,” the statement said. “We recognize that advanced nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors present an opportunity to strengthen global energy security and lower emissions while creating economic growth.”

“We intend to work closely with emerging nuclear markets to promote the accelerated use of advanced nuclear power globally while ensuring the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation,” the statement said.

The agreement will further the two countries’ commitment to reducing reliance on nuclear and related goods from Russia, as well as help both countries work toward creating a secure, reliable nuclear fuel supply of low-enriched uranium fuel for existing reactors and high assay low-enriched uranium fuel for advanced reactors.