Organizational readiness
As we move forward with Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel, we are enhancing our capabilities and processes to deliver this major infrastructure project — and take on new challenges, including implementing the long-term plan for intermediate-level and non-fuel high-level waste. In 2023, that work included ensuring we have the expertise and technological resources in place ahead of site selection in 2024 and the regulatory decision-making process that will follow. We have also begun new initiatives to ensure we are ready for the activities that will follow site selection for Canada’s used nuclear fuel repository.
Organizational transformation
Staying ready to adapt to new technologies, best practices and new phases of our work is fundamental to our way of operating. With that in mind, we undertook several transformational initiatives in 2023. These initiatives ensure that our organization and people are ready to begin implementing the next phases of Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel, while continuing to develop the site selection plan for an intermediate-level and non-fuel high-level waste repository.
The activities underway will strengthen engineering, construction planning and regulatory decision-making activities over the next decade. These initiatives span several aspects of the NWMO’s work such as our information and digital technologies, organizational culture, financial controls and funding access, project management, and engineering and design.
Some activities are designed to meet the specific needs and risks of future project phases such as enhancing processes to make our procurement process more efficient and implementing a new cost management tool that supports broader efforts related to regulatory decision-making. Others are foundational pieces that are already being implemented such as improving our cybersecurity readiness.
Preparing to move beyond site selection
While the process to select informed and willing hosts for Canada’s used nuclear fuel repository is still underway, many of our efforts in 2023 were focused on preparing for the activities that will follow that milestone. As the project becomes a more tangible reality in one of the two potential siting areas, we will be ready.
We continued to develop the plans to transition many of our people and operations to the repository site over time. This mobilization is a major task, and planning has already been taking place for several years to ensure qualified, competent staff are trained and available to work in whichever area is selected to host the repository. As part of our transition-to-site plan, we will also strive to maximize job opportunities in the local siting area and surrounding region, including First Nation and Métis communities, and to invest in training and education.
Another notable step was issuing a Request for Supplier Qualification (RFSQ) — kickstarting the multi-year procurement process to select suppliers that will work with us to deliver Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel. These suppliers will support several key category scopes of work such as nuclear and conventional surface facilities, sinking of shafts, underground mining and construction.
As we move closer to site selection, we are preparing not only for that milestone, but also for what comes next. From ensuring our team members have the resources and tools they need, to crafting future-looking strategies, we’re staying ready for what the next decade of implementing Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel will look like.