Celebrating 10 years of CANDU Technology in China

Qinshan CANDU reactors are largest Canada-China joint project to date

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 10, 2013 /CNW/ - Candu Energy Inc. Acting President & General Manager, Phil Guselle, along with Senior Vice President Marketing & Business Development, Ala Alizadeh, were in China yesterday with representatives from the Government of Canada  to mark the 10^th anniversary of the commencement of commercial operations of the two CANDU® reactors at Qinshan, located southwest of Shanghai.

Completed under budget and ahead of schedule, the Qinshan CANDU reactors continue to maintain an over 90% capacity factor and are some of the top performing reactors in China.

Mr. Guselle and Dr. Alizadeh were also in China to discuss the joint development of Advanced Fuel CANDU reactors, which utilize recycled uranium and thorium as alternative fuels, with Chinese partners. A joint panel review in China, scheduled for this summer, will review this program, which involves a further evolution of the successful CANDU 6® reactors.

"CANDU technology can make a major contribution to reducing China's dependence on imported nuclear fuel resources and help to reduce its overall volume of spent nuclear fuel," said Dr. Alizadeh. "China has abundant thorium resources, and can use recycled uranium in the most efficient and cost effective manner in our commercially proven reactor designs with minimal changes."

As part of this partnership, the Qinshan CANDU reactors recently received Chinese government policy and funding support as part of that country's National-Level Energy Innovation program to complete the full core implementation of natural uranium equivalent (NUE) fuel, which is composed of recycled uranium.

A 2012 study by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters found that building a pair of CANDU reactors outside of Canada would support  over 2,200 person-years of direct, high-wage employment and over $2.5 billion in economic activity here in Canada.

Approximately 40% of the total value of a CANDU new build in a typical export market would be sourced from Canada. CANDU technology is critical to sustaining Canada's nuclear industry, which currently employs more than 30,000 workers in 150 companies across Canada.

About Candu Energy Inc.
Candu Energy Inc. is a leading full-service nuclear technology company providing nuclear power reactors and nuclear products and services to customers worldwide. Candu Energy's 1,400 highly skilled employees design and deliver state-of-the-art CANDU^® reactors, carry out life extension projects, provide plant life management programs and tools, and offer operation and maintenance services for existing nuclear power stations.

About the Enhanced CANDU 6 reactor
Candu Energy's Enhanced CANDU 6® reactor is a 700MW Class Generation III reactor based on the highly successful CANDU 6 reactor with a number of safety enhancements to meet the latest Canadian and international standards. It uses natural uranium fuel, heavy-water moderator and heavy-water coolant in a pressure tube design. It can be refueled on power and has one of the highest lifetime capacity factors among the world's reactors. It is ideal for small and medium electric grids, and benefits from the CANDU 6 experience of proven design, construction and operation.

About Advanced Fuel CANDU reactors
Candu Energy's Advanced Fuel CANDU reactors have been uniquely designed among all the world's reactor designs with fuel flexibility. Capable of running on recycled uranium (RU), natural uranium equivalent (NUE) or thorium, the fully Generation III requires very few design changes are needed to the reactor core. Candu's work on fuel cycles, in combination with our partners, has led to more advanced, efficient and synergistic fuel cycle options that bring even greater resource utilization advantages.

Candu Energy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. (TSX: SNC). For more information, visit www.candu.com.

SOURCE: Candu Energy Inc.

Katherine Ward
Candu Energy Inc.
[email protected]
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905-823-9040 ext. 37349