Plutonium Utilization in Canada

The nuclear power program is expanding rapidly in Canada and the plutonium production rate therefore is expected to burgeon. The plutonium will be produced in natural uranium, heavy-water-mode rated reactors of the CANDU pressure tube type. Canada's first nuclear power reactor, the 25 MWe NPD, went into operation in 1962 and has proved to be a valuable power source for the Ontario Hydro public utility system. During the high demand winter period of 1967-68, for example, it operated at a capacity factor of 99.96%. It has been converted in the past few months to operate with boiling heavy water coolant instead of the previous pressurized liquid D₂O to provide pertinent data for future designs. The heavy-water-cooled Douglas Point reactor which was put into service in 1966 has been supplying 200 MWe of base load to Ontario Hydro. Four larger pressurized heavy water CANDU-PHW reactors each with 500 MWe output are under construction at the Pickering Generating Station near Toronto for commissioning over the period 1971-73. A larger station still, 3000 MWe, is being considered by Ontario Hydro; details on the specific site chosen and the nature of the CANDU-PHW design parameters are expected within a few months. Also under construction is a 250 MWe natural uranium D₂O-moderated reactor cooled with boiling light water. This CANDU-BLW station is being built at Gentilly in the Province of Quebec for startup in 1971.