The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) on Wednesday issued a decommissioning license to Hydro-Québec for its Gentilly-2 nuclear reactor, which operated in Quebec from 1983 to 2012.
The license, which allows Hydro-Québec to begin the estimated CAN $1.8 billion decommissioning project, is valid from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2026. According to an announcement Wednesday, CNSC considered input from the company, five intervenors, and CNSC staff in issuing the decision. The commission will now submit annual regulatory oversight reports concerning performance of the facility and decommissioning status updates during public meetings.
The decommissioning schedule shows Gentilly-2 remaining in a dormant state through 2055, with removal of the spent fuel starting in 2050, when the company anticipates a repository being available in Canada. A five-year period of preparation and dismantling is scheduled through 2060, followed by two years of site restoration. The Gentilly-1 reactor, a reactor that operated between 1972 and 1978, is also located on site and is undergoing decommissioning.
