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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1996-12-25, Page 10a`- warhead plutonium by Bev Fry Burning plutonium from dismantled nuclear weapons, at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development (BNPD), north of Kincardine, is another step closer to real- ity. In an effort to encour- age world disarmament, the federal government has agreed to allow Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. to test burn a small amount of mixed oxide fuel (MOX) pellets, at its research laboratory in Chalk River. The fuel will come from the United States and will prove to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) that it Is feasible to burn MOX fuel in CANDU reactors. Ontario Hydro, which owns the Bruce Generating stations, has made a proposal to the DOE to use the plutonium commercially at the BNPD, if the tests prove successful. "We feel Hydro could play an important role in global nuclear disarma- ment by working with both the United States and Russia in this program, said -executive, vice presi- dent George Hugh in a press release. He added the DOE's interest in the Canadian proposal is based on the possibility of involving the Russians as part of a trilateral program to have both U.S. and Russian sur- plus weapons plutonium burned in Canadian reac- tors under international supervision. Canadian involvement in the pro- gram is. consistent with Canada's historical posi- tion as a'proponent for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Juris Grava, business development manager for Bruce Generating Station A, said burning MOX would provide ratepayers with an additional revenue stream to subsidize the cost of electricity. He added the reactors at Bruce A, units three and four, would require few modifications to burn the MOX fuel. He said about $50 million in capital work would be required at the BNPD in order to facilitate the MOX pro- ject. That includes build- ing a secure fuel storage area, improved access control, intrusion detec- tion and barriers that would delay unauthorized entry into the storage area. He said the U.S. would pay for the capital work. While the spent fuel would be disposed of, on site, Grava said the MOX fuel is no different than natural uranium fuel and there would he less of it to store. Grava said using MOX fuel would displace the amount of uranium fuel bundles which are being stored now in spent fuel hays at the generating sta- tions. Those fuel hays are becoming full and Hydro is presently seeking per- mission from the Atomic Energy Control Board (Af:CB) to build a dry storage facility at the BNPD to house spent luel bundles until a permanent disposal facility in the Canadian Shield has been approved. • Bob Gadsby, director of plutonium disposition for AECL said attaining spent fuel status for the plutoni- um is what the MOX pro- ject is all about. "'rhe United,. States wants to achieve that. They want to make the plutonium into spent reac- tor fuel. It is much less dangerous and is very sim- ilar to spent uranium fuel." He said AECL has burned plutonium in its research reactor at Chalk River before, but it has never burned plutonium from nuclear war heads. "There is a higher amount of plutonium in weapons, called Plutonium 239. 1 am sure the experiment will prove the proposal will work." Gadsby said Canada can play a constructive role in getting rid of nuclear weapons. "I would think, particu- larly at this time of year, with peace on .earth and good will toward men, that this is something Canadians can see as a positive step to getting rid of nuclear weapons. Of course there has to he the appropriate licensing and environmental reviews." The U.S. wants to scrap 5() tonnes of plutonium left over from their nuclear weapons program. The United States and Russia must destroy the material to comply with arms -.reduction accords. Storewide Savings ALL /ERHAID1SE REDUCED We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! New Year's Eve `96-'97 Dance Lucknow Legion Branch #309 December:31sL 9-1 am Music by:I . Tiffin's Orchestra l250perperson.� Hot Lunch Included. Tickets available at the Bar, Lucknow Cut & Curl or Becker's Milk Tables, Lamps, Sofas, Occasional Chairs, Box Springs & Mattresses, Bedroom Suites, Dining Room Suites, Sofa Beds, End Tables, Coffee Tables, Leather Furniture, Wall Units, Area Rugs, Pictures, Mirrors, Entertainment Centres, Cedar Chests, Recliners, Computer Furniture; etc. Fine Furniture v and Window Fashions 467 Main St., Exeter 235-0173