Saint John, New Brunswick (Thursday, June 16th, 2022) – NB Power, Moltex Energy, and ARC Clean Energy Canada (ARC Canada) took part in an advanced small modular reactor (aSMR) supply chain event on June 14th at the Saint John Trade & Convention Centre.
Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB), Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), First Nations Power Authority (FNPA), and Atlantica Centre for Energy supported the event, which welcomed a sold-out crowd of over 270 suppliers, manufacturers, Indigenous community representatives, and government employees representing over 150 organizations from across New Brunswick and Canada.
The theme was Generating Benefits for New Brunswick and featured interactive and inclusive discussions on supplier qualification, product and service requirements, supplier development programs and training opportunities, and Indigenous partnership opportunities.
Keith Cronkhite, President and CEO of NB Power, Bill Labbe, President and CEO of ARC Canada, and Rory O’Sullivan, CEO North America of Moltex provided updates on aSMR development, including supply chain opportunities and timelines.
The event was co-sponsored by ONB and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and was attended by provincial and federal government representatives, including the Hon. Arlene Dunn, New Brunswick Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business, ONB, and Immigration, Hon. Mike Holland, New Brunswick Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, and Hon. Ginette Petitpas-Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.
A state-of-the art aSMR cluster offers countless benefits to grow the low-carbon economy of the future. Bringing together diverse participants to learn, share, and collaborate furthers progress towards establishing New Brunswick as the hub for supply chain and technical support as aSMR technology is deployed in Canada and internationally.
Quotes:
“The future of energy in Atlantic Canada is carbon-free and the entire SMR ecosystem has the potential to provide environmental and economic benefits. We are committed to working with government partners, academia, industry and Indigenous groups to help seize these opportunities for a thriving sector and a clean energy future.”
– Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Opportunities Agency
“Our government has made energy innovation a priority sector and the interest in the event and the importance of those who were present are a demonstration of its significance. With the growing interest in aSMRs – the next generation of nuclear technology – yesterday’s event is the springboard required to ensure New Brunswick is ready to continue to meet the needs of this industry and is able to maximize the economic opportunity for NB businesses and people.”
– Hon. Arlene Dunn, New Brunswick Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business, Opportunities New Brunswick, and Immigration
“New Brunswick wants to build a reputation as a global emissions reduction leader and we believe small modular reactors will play a significant role in turning that vision into reality. We see significant opportunities for SMR development and use, both here in Canada and abroad, and know New Brunswick is the perfect place for this technology to be refined and developed in Canada.”
– Hon. Mike Holland, New Brunswick Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development
“Today, we serve New Brunswick customers with safe, reliable and cost-effective electricity which is approximately 80% carbon free. As we transition towards net zero carbon, we will need to integrate all forms of non-emitting generation. This includes SMRs as a key enabler and we are pleased to collaborate with government, academia, Indigenous groups and our industry peers.”
– Keith Cronkhite, President and CEO, NB Power
“New advanced reactors are going to create thousands of new jobs, and we want as many of those as possible to be in New Brunswick. Already about half of the products and services that we are going to need can be sourced in the province, and with the right capacity building, more is possible. This is a huge opportunity for companies to grow and prosper, while contributing to cleaner energy production.”
– Rory O’Sullivan, CEO, North America, Moltex Energy
“ARC Canada wishes to thank all levels of government and the many companies and organizations who participated in this week’s aSMR supply chain event. New Brunswick’s deep industrial history makes the province ideal for the creation of an integrated and inclusive supply chain that can support a global market for aSMRs. ARC Canada looks forward to continued engagement with suppliers to bring tremendous economic benefits to this region.”
– William “Bill” Labbe, President & CEO, ARC Clean Energy Canada
“aSMR development can lead to the establishment of a new industrial supply sector in New Brunswick. This is a tremendous opportunity for new and existing suppliers within the province and country. CME will continue to collaborate with aSMR vendors to support manufacturers as these new technologies are developed and deployed.”
– Ron Marcolin, Divisional Vice President, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
Media contacts:
Dominique Couture
NB Power
dcouture@nbpower.com
Erin Polka
Moltex Energy
erinpolka@moltexenergy.com
Sandra Donnelly
ARC Clean Energy Canada
sdonnelly@arcenergy.co
About NB Power:
For over 100 years, NB Power has been a part of the fabric of New Brunswick, Canada. The provincial electric utility has one of the most diverse generation fleets in North America, with approximately 80 per cent non-emitting generation. Over 2,600 energy experts provide reliable, safe and sustainable energy for over 400,000 direct and indirect customers every day. Using a customer-centric approach, NB Power is committed to developing sustainable energy for future generations of New Brunswickers. Part of this commitment includes investments in energy efficiency programs, energy solutions, renewable energy sources and smart grid technology.
About Moltex:
Moltex is a privately held company striving to solve the world’s most critical challenge: providing sufficient clean, reliable and affordable energy. In collaboration with innovators and energy experts, the company is developing a small modular reactor that will help keep fossil fuels in the ground. Moltex was selected by NB Power and the Government of New Brunswick to progress development of its reactor technology in New Brunswick, Canada, with the aim of deploying its first reactor next to the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station.
About ARC Canada:
ARC Clean Energy Canada Inc. (ARC Canada) is a clean energy technology company developing an advanced small modular reactor (SMR) offering inherently safe, reliable, and economical carbon free power that deals with waste for both on-grid and industrial applications. ARC Canada has established its Head Office in Saint John, New Brunswick with a goal of promoting business and economic development within Canada. ARC Canada envisions the creation of a sustainable supply chain delivering economic growth, well-paying supply chain jobs and the opportunity for New Brunswick and Canada to take a lead in the advanced Small Modular Reactor technology field.
